This week, the Sekoya program's first blueberry plants are being planted. These will stand in a field near the Dutch village of Horst. In the Netherlands, abbGrowers is the only company allowed to sell these Sekoya blueberries.
"The planting took place on a cold but beautiful day. The sun peeked out from behind lovely clouds. This heralded a good start for the planting. The sand ridges had been pre-prepared. The planting holes were made by hand by the growers. It was then time to put the plants in the ground. That also requires some manual labor - the plants grow best when they are firmly pressed into the soil. All this to be able to harvest and taste the first of these blueberries next year," says Leon Driessen, Commercial Director at Driessen Blueberries.
When asked why Driessen and abbGrowers are so excited about Sekoya, Leon answers, "Sekoya blueberries come in two varieties - Crunch and Grande. These varieties follow up on each other in the harvesting period. This period lasts for two months. What makes Sekoya blueberries unique is that these varieties have exceptional characteristics. These are important for their cultivation and sales."
"These blueberries have a great flavor, size, shelf life, and firmness. These last two properties, in particular, can mean a lot for global sales expansion," adds Fred Douven, abbGrowers' CEO.
abbGrowers have now planted this soft fruit on a 4-hectare field. Next year, ten hectares will be added. The expected production figures show that this plant also looks promising in terms of yield. After five to six years, this blueberry plant will be in full production. Then, 15,000 kg per hectare is expected.
For more information:
Fred Douven
abbGrowers
Tel: + 31 (0) 772 300 001
Email: [email protected]