The blueberry industry has several challenges that must be overcome to continue growing, including productive and commercial challenges, said the general manager of the Blueberries Producers Association of Peru (ProArándanos), Sergio del Castillo Valderrama.

He stressed that in the productive field, a platform or matrix of new varieties of blueberries (new genetics) must be created from the beginning that meet the market requirements, such as good taste, good consistency (no fruit softening) and long life on shelf.

"Today the majority of the production is Biloxi and it is not going to happen what happened with the Red Globe grape where everyone sowed this variety, which was good at the beginning but then saturated the market", He said.

In addition, he pointed out that the production of blueberries should not be concentrated in a commercial window (September-October), so it should be supplied with said fruit beyond those months.

"Today we know that this commercial window is very attractive and everyone aims to produce on that date, but at the rate we are going in that period there will be so much production that prices will no longer be attractive"He said.

Regarding commercial terms, he said that the challenge is above all to open markets. "Blueberries are a new product that was not on the radar three years ago so there were no requests from Peru for phytosanitary access and we have just arrived with a strong demand from Senasa on a number of markets that we are interested in opening. The challenge is to advance in these negotiations and achieve access ".

Data

In the 2015, Peru had 2.200 hectares of blueberries (all would be in production this year), 2.500 Has is currently expected to be said berrie and the expectation is that within 2 or 3 years have 5 thousand Has.

The main variety of blueberry grown in our country is Biloxi, then come Emerald, Ventura and some varieties that are with codes (they are exclusive of some companies that have signed contracts with the developers). However, tests with new varieties are coming.

Source: Agraria.pe