For many producers, the blueberries Rabbiteye tomatoes already have a certain reputation. For decades, stories have circulated about soft fruit, bland flavor, gritty seeds, and cracks caused by rain. In many regions, that reputation has been enough to dismiss them.

Oregon Blueberry believes the problem lies not in the species, but in the genetics.

“Those criticisms were fair for the older varieties,” says Jon Horton, director of genetics at Oregon Blueberry. “But they also caused growers to overlook the aspects where Rabbiteye excels exceptionally. Our goal with Raptor was to maintain the firmness and efficiency growers look for and deliver fruit of a quality that meets today’s expectations.”

The result has been OBG-Raptor™ (OBG-16252), a new Rabbiteye variety created specifically to overcome the limitations that have historically held back the species.

Development initiated in the field

OBG-Raptor™ has been evaluated in long-term trials in Oregon under real commercial conditions. Seven-year-old plants have produced up to 16 kg per plant, which equates to approximately 72.000 kg per hectare, assuming 4.500 plants per hectare. The fruit has demonstrated excellent resistance to rainfall under Oregon's weather conditions.

Just as important as yield is the plant's behavior. The Raptor's structure facilitates canopy maintenance, allowing for wider pruning cuts that remove more wood with each pass. This saves time, labor, and pruning costs in the long run.

Fruit that defies expectations

Older Rabbiteye often had difficulty meeting fresh market standards; however, OBG-Raptor™ has been selected with consumer quality in mind.

OBG-Raptor™ has been very well received in initial taste tests and retail sales, with positive feedback on its firmness, appearance, and consumer appeal. These initial responses suggest that the variety of blueberries It is well positioned for fresh marketing programs.

The fruits are large and uniform, averaging 18,2 mm, with a firmness that meets current market standards and surpasses that of popular northern and southern highbush varieties. The seed count is extremely low, thus avoiding the gritty texture commonly associated with Rabbiteye apples. The flavor and overall eating quality rival those of northern highbush varieties.

© Oregon Blueberry

The harvest of blueberries Harvesting typically takes place about two weeks after Titan and involves one or two pickings. This simplifies harvest scheduling and labor management. The variety adapts well to mechanized harvesting and maintains consistent post-harvest quality, making it ideal for both the fresh market and processing.

“Raptor stands out for its combination of exceptional yields and high-quality fruit, with the size, firmness, and consistency demanded by today’s fresh market,” says Doug McCann, sales director. “From a grower’s perspective, the variety’s efficiency and reduced input requirements translate directly into higher profitability per hectare. Raptor was developed to perform in the field, limit risks, and ultimately maximize grower profits. It’s simply a grower-friendly variety that also meets the demands of today’s retailers.”

A Rabbiteye for producers to reconsider their position

Rabbiteye varieties have always offered significant advantages, such as vigor, reduced input requirements, and tolerance to heat and drought. OBG-Raptor™ maintains these qualities while offering a quality that allows growers to access higher-value markets.

Therefore, growers who had previously dismissed planting Rabbiteye are now conducting trials with the OBG-Raptor™ and reassessing the suitability of the species based on performance, rather than reputation.

“We remain committed to supplying the plants and solutions growers need to succeed today and for generations to come,” Horton concludes. “OBG-Raptor is a reflection of this strategy.”

Blueberries Consulting Studies Section 

To delve deeper into this variety, in the Studies section of Blueberries Consulting you can find a complementary scientific article on Rabbiteye blueberries, entitled “Analysis of rabbiteye blueberry metabolomes and transcriptomes reveals mechanisms underlying potassium-induced anthocyanin production.”

The work analyzes, through metabolomics and transcriptomics, how the application of potassium influences the synthesis of anthocyanins and the early development of color in the fruit, identifying genes, transporters and enzymes associated with this process.

It is a useful read for better understanding the physiological mechanisms behind key quality attributes in fruit.