The blueberry sector is going through a spectacular time of transformation following the unprecedented development it has undergone in recent decades. This is solely thanks to breeders such as Fall Creek, which has not only facilitated the fruit's expansion but has also developed the genetics that have made it possible.
Despite the fact that blueberries are a fruit native to North America with specific cold requirements, breeding programs have allowed its cultivation in warm climatic zones, to the point that Peru, a tropical country, is currently the world's largest exporter of blueberries.
ArabellaBlue
"The growth of the blueberry sector in terms of both production and consumption has been extraordinary, and it will continue to grow in all markets around the world," says Teun Leenders, Commercial Manager for the EMEA region at Fall Creek. "In fact, if we extrapolate the data we have right now, blueberry consumption is expected to double in the next six to seven years, so the berry still offers huge opportunities to the sector."
"This expansion has been largely driven by the quality of fruit available on the market, and with our genetics, the blueberries that growers are supplying are better than before and also aim to meet consumer expectations, which have evolved in recent years."
"Thus, in order to give blueberry growers around the world access to the best genetics and allow them to differentiate themselves with the assurance that the fruit they grow is the fruit consumers want to buy, we are making our new Fall Creek Collection platform available to them."
Fall Creek Collection: Value-added genetics and technology transfer
Fall Creek Collection is a new value-added blueberry genetics platform that offers technology transfer and horticultural support to blueberry growers around the world.
"Fall Creek Collection is a platform designed for mid-sized to large growers and marketers striving to make their product stand out in the marketplace. It is more accessible than other programs that may be exclusive to smaller groups, and ensures significant differentiation based on fruit quality."
"All varieties selected for the Collection program must meet certain requirements: the fruit must have a good size and flavor, be firm and crisp, and should also have optimal post-harvest qualities to allow it to be shipped from the most distant production regions to the most distant consumer markets."
"Moreover, at Fall Creek we work on promoting these varieties not only on the supply side but very importantly, also when it comes to the demand for Collection blueberries."
"ArabellaBlue and LoretoBlue are becoming key blueberry varieties in the high chilling requirements segment"
The collection features a range of varieties with different chilling requirements, from high ones, as is the case of the ArabellaBlue 'FC14-062' or LoretoBlue 'FC11-118', low to zero, such as the AzraBlueTM 'FCM14-031'. This facilitates growers around the world access to these genetics.
"For us, the ArabellaBlue and LoretoBlue are two very exciting varieties because they bring something new to the market. While high chill requirement programs are usually long-term investments, these varieties develop much faster than those with traditional genetics and thus come into production earlier."
"They have excellent flavor and are very firm, like all Collection program varieties, and offer the added value of being harvested mechanically. Besides, shelf life is a key factor for the export of blueberries, and the ArabellaBlue and LoretoBlue have exceeded our expectations by showing that they remain in optimum condition for up to almost two months after the harvest."
"Duke has so far been the preferred early variety in the north and currently accounts for 40% of all plantings of high chill varieties, but with the significant genetic improvements brought by the ArabellaBlue and LoretoBlue, we expect these to become the key varieties for the high chill blueberry segment."
LoretoBlue
"FCM14-057 will bring a major revolution in production in warm areas"
"The Fall Creek Collection program also features the very low/zero chill requirement varieties AtlasBlue, AzraBlueTM, and 'FCM14-057', which can be grown in warm regions where blueberry cultivation is expanding, such as Morocco. 'FCM 14-057', which does not yet have a commercial name, has us particularly excited about its development, given its high yields and great post-harvest, and the large, crunchy, great tasting fruit it produces."
"In fact, it has been a great success at Fruit Logistica and we expect it to bring a major revolution in production in low/zero chill areas."
"Harvest automation will be the next big revolution in the blueberry industry"
"However, at Fall Creek we believe that the next big revolution in the blueberry industry will be mechanized harvesting."
"Labor costs and availability are growing issues in many countries, so we are already working on varieties with specific qualities for mechanical harvesting."
"Selections that meet these requirements have already been developed in the high chill framework of our breeding program, and we are conducting commercial trials. If our expectations are met, the blueberry industry as it exists today is going to change."
For more information:
Fall Creek Nursery
Carretera Partido de Resina, km. 2,5
41849 Aznalcázar, Sevilla (España)
Tel: +34 954 491 931
https://www.fallcreeknursery.com/