The world's largest blueberry variety, known as Eterna, will soon be cultivated and sold in New Zealand. The berries, described as reaching the size of a ping-pong ball, are being planted in the Kerikeri and Waikato regions.
The Fresh Berry Company, which grows and markets berries across New Zealand, confirmed a partnership with international berry producer Driscoll's to introduce the variety. General manager Simon Tallon said that one of the Eterna blueberries grown in Australia holds the Guinness World Record as the largest blueberry, weighing 20.4 grams.
© The Fresh Berry Company
He said that all imported plant stock underwent testing by the Ministry for Primary Industries to ensure it was free from pests and diseases before release to growers. "Those then get taken through to tissue culture and our commercial nurseries where we grow them into commercial plants for our farms and external growers," Tallon explained. "The big push is always how do you get better berries, firmer berries, better shelf life, and ultimately they have to be good-tasting fruit."
Tallon said a limited number of the large blueberries are expected to reach supermarket shelves in late 2026.
The company also plans to open its first South Island berry farm in Nelson next year. "All of our production is covered in plastic tunnel houses apart from some of the blueberries that are exported," Tallon said.
He added that a strong strawberry season is expected, leading up to Christmas, from the company's farms and growers in Hawke's Bay, Waikato, and Northland. "We are expecting to have a pretty good volume this year so consumers can enjoy strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries," he said.
According to Tallon, total berry sales in New Zealand reached about US$72 million last year.
Source: FarmersWeekly
