The blueberry market is constantly evolving, driven by new consumer demands and the production challenges that the industry faces. While global demand continues to rise, producers are forced to adapt to a new reality, varietal renewal. "The new blueberry varieties are not just better than the old ones, they are much, much better," says Ricardo Polis, CEO and COO of Fall Creek, a leading blueberry genetics and nursery company.
Fall Creek is present in the United States, Peru, Mexico, Chile, Spain, the Netherlands, South Africa, and China, and develops varieties that respond to market needs. "The great challenge is for those producers who still use old varieties. They are going to have to replace them with new ones if they want to remain competitive," Polis stressed.
The company has based its growth on solid investment in research and development. The company has centers in Seville (Spain), Guadalajara (Mexico), and the United States where it carries out tens of thousands of genetic crosses a year to obtain more productive varieties that have a better shelf life, are more attractive, and taste better. "Consumers are no longer just looking for a healthy fruit, but one that they really enjoy eating," Polis said.
The Sekoya Pop 'FCM14-052', one of the company's main varieties, is a highly productive plant that offers larger and crunchier fruits, marking a difference from previous generations. "This variety has been quickly adopted in Peru, a country that has established itself as the world's largest exporter of blueberries. We are part of the Peruvian miracle," the executive stated.
Sekoya Pop 'FCM14-052'.
Climate change is a major concern for the industry, affecting production in different regions of the world. Fall Creek has addressed this challenge by testing varieties in different climates to ensure that they adapt well. "What works in Italy might not work in the Netherlands. That is why we test each variety in the future growing area for three years before marketing it," Polis emphasized.
Another obstacle in the market is production time. In Europe and the United States, the crops yield their first commercial volumes in the second or third year. In Peru, producers can harvest in less than a year. "That doesn't happen anywhere else in the world. It's an incredible competitive advantage," he said.
LunaBlue 'FC12-205'.
Global blueberry consumption has grown exponentially in the last decade, driven by the perception that it is a superfood. However, the real revolution in the sector comes from genetic improvement. "It's only been six years since the world has been supplied with significant volumes 52 weeks a year. Peru, Mexico, and Morocco have entered the global production map, allowing supermarkets to offer blueberries all year round. And this is just beginning," Polis stated.
"Fall Creek has a clear recommendation for growers who want to stay in business: adapt or fall behind. Producers with old varieties have to think about renewal. It already happened with grapes and certain mandarin varieties. Now, it's the blueberry's turn," he stated.
For more information:
Ricardo Polis
Fall Creek
Peru
Tel: +51 972126367 / +51 972126367
Email: rpolis@fallcreeknursery.com
www.fallcreeknursery.com/es/productores-de-frutas-comerciales/peru-es