Blueberries will be the main focus at the next Macfrut

Is the growth of the blueberry so relentless? Is it still sustainable to have such fruit travel from one part of the globe to another just for the sake of having a tray in the supermarket counter even in December? What are the best varieties? This and many other questions will be answered during the International Blueberry Days event that will take place from 3 to 5 May 2023 during Macfrut in Rimini, Italy. A preview will be held on 2 May in Ancona.

"The development and diffusion of new varieties, along with the introduction of new cultivation techniques," says Bruno Mezzetti, professor at the University of Ancona and point of scientific reference for the event, "are fostering the wide diffusion of blueberry cultivation in different areas of the world, increasing the interest of consumers, attracted by better quality and offers for continuous periods of the year. However, the pursuit of high-quality blueberries is not so easy, as knowledge and technical skills are needed. The 'Blueberry school' and the 'Blueberry Days' at Macfrut aim to create a unique moment of discussion between researchers, technicians and operators in the sector, regarding all aspects affecting the blueberry production chain in the world."

Bruno Mezzetti

It will consist of four days with top technical-scientific experts, global operators and international blueberry opinion leaders, from Wednesday, 3 to Friday, 5 May, with the Blueberry School reserved for young researchers at the Università Politecnica delle Marche, scheduled for 2 May.

"The International Blueberry Days program aims to analyze the complex and dynamic global blueberry industry. In the last 5 years, the international map of producing countries and supply schedules have changed profoundly on the one hand, and the spending per capita and geographical distribution of consumption have changed on the other hand," says Thomas Drahorad, managing director of Italian Berry. 

The International Blueberry Days open on Wednesday, 3 May, at Macfrut, with the Symposium that will address the main scientific issues (genetics, nursery gardening, nutrition, cultivation techniques, nutritional and biomedical aspects) with the presence of the world's top experts.

The day of Thursday 4 May is dedicated to global operators, which will include the U.S.-based Driscoll's, specialized in nursery and fruit production, and Australia's Costa Group, a leading breeder in blueberry production. The event will shed the spotlight on market trends and production trends, presenting case histories of the world's most successful operators.

The last day, Friday, 5 May, will include on-site visits to a testing field set up at the live area at the fair (Blueberry On Field), led by technicians and experts.