The industry of blueberries Peru is undergoing a varietal renewal process aimed at consolidating its position on the world stage. The search for new varieties is a strategy that producers are pursuing in partnership with major companies. One of these companies is... Fall creek, an American company that develops genetic material and that, after having consolidated varieties such as Ventura, puts on the market the Sekoya Pop as a spearhead.

We talked with Julio ZavalaGeneral manager Fall Creek Peru, who tells us what producers are looking for in new varieties, “There are several things they look for, but one of the main things has to do with yields; they should be exceeding 20 or 25 tons per hectare to be able to talk about a base of high-yielding varieties. In our case, with the launch of varieties, we try to ensure that they have a yield above 25 tons per hectare. That is our base, and we are working towards higher yields.”.

Zevala pointed out that another characteristic sought in new varieties is flexibility. "Or that it responds positively to pruning at different stages of the year. This means that the peak production falls outside of Peru's peak production period. The country has a very pronounced curve that typically peaks around week 40 or 42 of the growing season. So, as a producer, what you have to do is look for varieties that will help you avoid that peak.", he mentioned.

Finally, there is the issue of fruit size, above 18 mm, and organoleptic characteristics, that the fruit has a good balance, brix, acidity, that it is firm, that it travels well, and that it has good cosmetics.

Sekoya Pop and its breakthrough in the industry

In the early days of the industry of blueberry in Peru, Biloxi It was the main player, the variety that triggered the industry. It was followed by varieties like Ventura, which consolidated and led this first wave of production and profitability in the business,It's a Fall Creek variety that gave hope to this business because of the harvest yields—I'm referring to the kilos per day a person can harvest. It went from 25 kg in Biloxi to 40 or 50 kg in Ventura, so the cost of production was cut in half, and that gave the business a new lease of life and energy.”Zavala pointed out.

However, he mentioned that today the variety leading the growth in plantings, whether for new projects or varietal replacement, is Sekoya Pop. “The FCM 14052 variety, commercially known as Sekoya Pop, is currently the leading variety in this new phase of growth, this new wave in the growth of the blueberry industry in Peru, with over 4000 hectares planted. We also have other varieties like Sekoya Beauty, which has also had a significant market share, and within the Collection program we have varieties like FCM14057 or FCM 17132, Azra and Bianca for the Chinese market. So there is a range of varieties that producers have as alternatives to plant with us.”, He said.

Presence in emerging countries of the industry

Fall Creek is a company founded in 1978 in Oregon, USA. Today, it has a presence in several countries, including Mexico, Spain, Chile, and Peru, and has begun expanding into emerging markets such as Morocco, Egypt, Georgia, Turkey, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and India, where it is starting to cultivate blueberries on a significant scale.

“We are primarily entering the market as a spearhead with Sekoya Pop, followed by varieties such as FCM 14057”Zavala mentioned.

Fall Creek's first international investment was in Mexico. It then entered Peru in 2014, establishing a plant nursery in Quilmaná, Cañete, and in 2021 the company opened a 2500 m² laboratory in Chorrillos, Lima. Fall Creek also has investments in Spain, the Netherlands, South Africa, Chile, and China.

Premium quality and blue oceans

“The experience of eating fruit is incredibly important. It's said that a consumer who has a bad experience with blueberries or any other fruit takes six weeks to buy it again or give it another chance. Today, we're very focused on quality; the quality of Peruvian fruit is highly regarded abroad. I'm incredibly proud when I go to an international trade fair because Peru now has consistently high-quality fruit. It produces excellent fruit throughout the season. What does high-quality fruit mean? Fruit that arrives in good condition at the markets, firm, well-balanced, with good appearance, and a positive overall experience when consumed. We can find this in varieties like Sekoya Pop, Sekoya Beauty, or High Chill and Zero Chill, which offer these kinds of consumption experiences.”Zavala argues.

In this sense, he stated that experiences with premium quality fruits not only open new markets, but also build loyalty among consumers eager to eat more and more blueberries, which are called "blue oceans".

“There is evidence that per capita consumption, whether in China, Europe, or the United States, continues to rise. And unlike other species such as apples or other fruits, where per capita consumption has stagnated, blueberries are experiencing growth. However, we cannot rest on our laurels waiting for all the fruit to be absorbed by these new 'blue oceans.' Therefore, the work being done by Senasa (National Agrarian Health Service of Peru) is truly commendable.”) "We are in the search for new markets such as Japan, a country with which negotiations are already underway for the entry of blueberries, and we hope that in the near future we can open up markets such as South Korea.".

The impact of varietal replacement on the industry

Finally, regarding the impact of this varietal shift on the Peruvian industry, he noted, “What is happening today is important. The market is very dynamic, not only because of these new varietal shift projects, but also because of crop rotation. There are producers switching from asparagus to blueberries, peppers to blueberries, and even avocados to blueberries. There are several avenues through which blueberries are entering the market. It is important that all of this is integrated. This varietal shift, this introduction of new, premium varieties to the market, these blue oceans, these new consumer experiences—everything must be integrated so that the industry remains profitable for the country and for the producers.”