The 2025/26 campaign of blueberries In Peru, the season closed with positive results in terms of profitability, despite the weather events in May and June that slightly affected projected volumes. This is according to Julio Zavala, general manager of Fall Creek Peru, in a comprehensive assessment of the season and the direction the industry will take in the coming years.

According to Zavala, the impact of high temperatures during the flowering months hurt producers who were late to that critical window. "If you have the right genetics, the right environment, and the right agronomic management, you can have guaranteed profitability," he points out, identifying this triangle as the determining factor in each producer's performance. The peak export weeks, concentrated around week 40, extended to three or four weeks, compared to the usual peak week, which proved favorable for the market.

The Lambayeque and La Libertad regions maintain their hegemony, contributing approximately 75% of the exported volume, while Ica is gaining prominence as a new growth area, partly due to its lower exposure to the El Niño phenomenon.

One of the most delicate episodes of the season was the detection of a quarantine pest in pallets of coconut fiber from India, a country that accounts for 80% of Peru's supply of this substrate. The alert generated uncertainty in new planting projects, although the actual impact was limited. "SENASA's reaction was vital," Zavala points out, highlighting the speed with which the agency authorized supplier companies that complied with fumigation protocols at the source. The practical effect was limited to a delay of one or two months in some projects, with a direct impact on the cash flow of that first production year. Peru is working on developing a local coconut fiber industry, although it is still in its early stages compared to major global producers like India, Sri Lanka, and Brazil.

© Fall Creek Farm and Nursery, Inc.

The varietal shift is progressing rapidly. Zavala points out that varieties like Sekoya Pop and Apex are leading the transition to larger sizes—above 18 or 20 millimeters—with yields exceeding 30 tons per hectare. "If a new variety doesn't deliver weight, we're not talking about anything," he states clearly. The formula he describes is straightforward: volume plus quality equals a premium price in differentiated markets.

Regarding the varietal map for 2030, Zavala estimates that around 10.000 hectares—currently planted with varieties like Ventura and Biloxi—will continue to undergo conversion. He predicts that around 60% to 70% of Peruvian production will be premium fruit by that date.

Peru currently sends 50% of its exports to the United States, 30% to Europe, 15% to China, and the remaining 5% to the United Kingdom and other destinations. Ongoing negotiations to gain access to Japan and, subsequently, South Korea point to a diversification that the sector considers strategic.

© Fall Creek Farm and Nursery, Inc.

Regarding the Chinese consumer, Zavala is clear: "What they primarily want is a fruit with low acidity." Peru's natural window in that market is between July and September, when there is no local premium production available.

Zavala has no doubt: "We're in a second wave and there's still time to enter this industry." The snacking segment—where premium is synonymous with firmness, flavor, and consumer experience—is growing at 7-8% annually in the US and in double digits in Europe, with no signs of oversupply in the short term for those opting for the high-end range.

"Efficiency, technology, and the right genetics will be, in his opinion, the factors that will define the industry leaders in the coming years," he concludes.