New Zealand: New variety of extra-large blueberry
This February 8, BerryCo, one of the most influential members of the growing New Zealand blueberry market, shared with the producers of Tauranga their research on a new variety of extra-large cranberry that is raging in Asian markets, where it has amazed to consumers who care about their health.
La Eureka variety, created by the Australian breeder Ridley Bell, of Mountain Blue Orchards, produces blueberries larger than a coin of 2 euros. BerryCo has acquired the exclusive rights in New Zealand of a wide range of blueberry species from Mountain Blue Orchards, including the Eureka variety, from which it will plant the first 40 hectares in the coming months.
Once BerryCo has licensed and started producing them, these giant fruits will revolutionize the blueberry industry and allow New Zealand producers to compete in the global market. Sales of more than 8 million dollars are foreseen during the first two seasons, since these "premium" fruits already have a high demand in Southeast Asia.
The director of BerryCo, Carwyn Williams, says that this inaugural event is a milestone in the development of the company, which was founded on the principle of offering blueberry consumers the type of product they want.
"The varieties of Mountain Blue Orchards are world class because of their enormous size, crispy texture, flavor and shelf life, and there is no other program to obtain Southern Highbush varieties like this one."He says.
"The producers of BerryCo think about the future and have invested in the licenses because they understand our commitment to the sustainability of the markets and their businesses. Controlling intellectual property means not planting more hectares than we think we can market at a 'premium' price and choosing the varieties that grow best in our different growing regions".
The export potential of the Eureka variety in Southeast Asia was tested for the first time last year, when BerryCo sent some 300 tons from Australia, where this variety is already consolidated. Most of the volume went to Thailand and Singapore for four months, and smaller shipments were also made to Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.
Due to the strict phytosanitary measures of Australia, BerryCo could not access certain markets, but New Zealand has different measures, so its producers can send their fruits to other countries, such as Japan and, in the future, South Korea and China. Last year, the Ministry of Primary Industries of New Zealand said that requesting access to these markets for blueberries will be "the next priority", which will benefit the entire New Zealand industry.
"We have tested the Asian market and our efficiency in the supply chain, so now our highest priority is to investigate to provide New Zealand producers the varieties that best perform in their gardens", Concludes Williams.
As of March of this year, BerryCo will deliver its first 200.000 propagated plants to licensed growers, and there will be a second phase of 2017 spring deliveries. Since this variety is capable of producing after the first year of planting, it is possible that there will be a small commercially viable crop in 2017, although it will be evaluated if this volume can be exported later.
Source: Freshplaza.es
Previous article
The 2017 will remain dryARTÍCULOS RELACIONADOS
