In recent years, the market for new varieties of blueberries for the industry has not stopped growing, and the reasons that explain this permanent offer of new alternatives are varied.

In the next decade, it is projected that the blueberry production map will be extended to regions that will need increasingly special varieties, which must be adapted to soils or climatic realities that are very different from the biographical trajectory of the crop.

Geography and consumers

On the other hand, what has driven this great development of genetic improvement and the offer of new varieties are the high quality demands imposed by consumers in the most important markets, which forces producers to renew their genetic material so as not to lose competitiveness or position in the market.

This varietal availability has also had to adapt the development of new management and production techniques, such as hydroponics, with the use of protective covers and substrates in bags or pots that replace precarious, unsuitable soils, or those lacking the water resources necessary for cultivation. of the blueberry.

Genetics from Australia

The Mountain Blue Orchard (MBO) plant improvement program, created by Ridley Bell, since 1975 has been developing key varieties of Northern Highbush y Southern highbush. The show includes early, mid, and late season varieties, with some of the most important varieties being oversized varieties like Eureka and Twilight. In general, MBO blueberries have premium qualities, such as jumbo size, long shelf life, increased sweetness, great firmness, and texture.

The Snackberries company has enabled the arrival in Chile of this new genetics and has the production and marketing license. Francisco Soler, General Manager of the company, comments that as these varieties begin to give results and gain the confidence of the producers, they will multiply among their associates.

What are the main qualities of MBO varieties for Chilean producers?

• MBO varieties are characterized by their high yield and agronomic characteristics (fast growth, ease of fruit setting, ease of cultivation, ease of harvest). Also noteworthy is the large size and firmness of the berry, in addition to its crunchy fruit qualities, good texture and great flavor. The most important varieties are Eureka and Eureka Gold, which have long postharvest life.

MBO has a wide variety of blueberry plant alternatives for early season, mid season and late season crops. The varieties are chosen for specific markets and are destined for the regions where they will perform the best, in terms of yield and time.

What are the results and where have they been obtained?

• The results in Chile are very promising, this is our second harvest, last year's was small, but this year we have good volumes. At our main farm in Curicó, we have planted all varieties, allowing us to carefully assess which ones perform best and under what conditions. We are very satisfied with the quality, size, firmness and flavor of the fruits. The demand has been very good and the feedback from our customers has been exceptionally positive.

To date, fourteen varieties have arrived, of which eleven of them are in productive fields and in general, the behavior is very homogeneous. They are varieties of easy adaptation to Chilean soils and that obtain very good yields from the first years of harvest.