During the annual meeting of the Polish Blueberry Growers Association, key issues of production, regulation and market were addressed, with a strong emphasis on fruit quality, varietal strategy and Poland's position in the international blueberry market.

According to breeder Paweł Korfanty, market standards have changed significantly in the last 15 to 20 years. Today, consumers prioritize quality, and price plays a less decisive role. In this context, producers of high-quality fruit report no marketing difficulties, while quality remains the sector's main structural weakness.

A significant portion of production still relies on older cultivars such as Bluecrop, Spartan, Chandler, Nelson, Toro, and Elliott. In contrast, newer-generation varieties—including Draper, Calypso, and Liberty—are considered more competitive. Besides firmness, flavor is becoming an increasingly important selection criterion.

Since 2020, climate instability has intensified, impacting yield stability and fruit quality. Even Bluecrop has shown a decline in productivity and quality in recent seasons. Spring frosts continue to pose a significant risk.

Late flowering is not considered a sufficient solution. Instead, greater attention is being paid to genetic tolerance to frost during flowering and fruit set, as well as the presence of secondary (dormant) buds that allow for yield recovery. However, plants affected by frost often produce lower quality berries.

In May 2025, a grower in Podlasie recorded 21 nights with sub-zero temperatures. Loreto Blue performed well under these conditions, while Calypso suffered leaf damage, but its flowers survived and produced fruit.

Korfanty noted that competitive pressure from neighboring countries may be somewhat exaggerated. In Ukraine, plantations have expanded rapidly in recent years, but the war has significantly limited the availability of labor, hindering further development.

In Serbia, the initial boom in Duke plantations was evident, but growers are currently facing cultivation challenges, and much of their production is geared toward the Russian market. A similar situation is observed in Georgia, where sales are also largely concentrated in Russia.

Korfanty also presented two new cultivars from its breeding program: Erisa and Eluna, both with concentrated ripening and an upright plant habit.

Erisa stands out for its high storage stability and a berry size of 18–22 mm. Eluna ripens 3 to 4 days earlier, producing slightly larger berries (22–24 mm), but has a shorter storage window. Both cultivars performed well after the 2024/2025 winter. Concentrated ripening improves harvest efficiency and field uniformity.

In 2025, Poland's blueberry harvest reached almost 65.000 tons, with an estimated potential of around 100.000 tons in favorable seasons. However, for the first time, the country became a net importer of fresh blueberries: exports totaled 20.900 tons, while imports reached 26.300 tons.

Domestic consumption is highly seasonal. Approximately 40.000 tons were consumed between July and September, while imports are concentrated outside the domestic season, especially in May and June. The main sources supplying the Polish market are Spain (approximately 6.600 tons), Chile (2.500), Peru (2.000), Morocco (1.300), and Serbia (1.100). Meanwhile, the Netherlands and Germany largely serve as transit hubs.

In this scenario, the sector faces a strategic decision: invest in next-generation genetics, quality and climate resilience, or assume the risk of a gradual loss of competitiveness.