Peruvian company Danper is one of the main blueberry producers in the country, with production concentrated in La Libertad. The company expects to produce between 15 and 17 million kilos of blueberries this season.
At the Compositán farm in Virú, one of Danper's largest operations, corporate manager Juan Valdivia Chumbe explained that the farm covers around 200 hectares of blueberries with a potential of 2,000 hectares. Other crops on site include avocados, asparagus, peppers, and basil. Danper manages six production farms across the region.
Blueberries are exported primarily to Europe, followed by the United States and China. "We always try to focus the largest volume of our early harvest on China, and then we have a strategic plan to expand our production to Europe and the United States with a significant volume," Valdivia said. Japan and Indonesia are also viewed as potential markets, with genetics being key to meeting requirements for size, flavor, and post-harvest life.
The United States remains a critical market, but new tariffs announced by President Donald Trump have raised concerns. Valdivia said, "We know there is an additional percentage of tariffs that the United States is proposing, but we have not yet quantified the direct impact. There is an initial estimate, but we will reduce this internally through production and resource management."
Danper works with 64 blueberry varieties under test and six commercial varieties. According to José Luis Gómez Plasencia, Manager of Agricultural Production for the Northern Zone, varieties under trial include those from the University of Florida, IQ Berries, Fall Creek, OZblue, and Planasa. Commercial varieties include Ventura, Mágica, Sekoya Pop, Sekoya Beauty, Madeira, and Biloxi.
Gómez noted that Ventura has adapted well to the region. "It is a fruit that has a very good post-harvest life, with good yield, you can reach between 25 and 32 tons per hectare. It has a good flavor, an interesting average size, a good balance of brix and acidity, and a good shelf life because it can easily reach China." High-quality fruit is primarily directed to Asia, where standards for size, firmness, and flavor are strict.
The La Libertad region offers favorable climatic conditions, with maximum temperatures not exceeding 28°C and minimums above 15°C. Water availability is secured through the Chavimochic project. However, challenges remain due to high cloud cover at harvest and limited temperature differentials affecting ripening.
Elena Vega, Head of Irrigation Operations, said future growth in Peru will depend on varietal replacement. "The industry may grow, but companies in Peru are more focused on varietal replacement. In Peru, there are more than 5,000 hectares of Biloxi that will gradually be replaced; perhaps that's why the growth rate won't be as high."
Source: Blueberries Consulting
