Peru: Less Biloxi and new premium blueberry varieties
The president of Inka's Berries, Carlos Gereda, announced that the Peruvian company plans to start shipping new varieties of blueberries in the 2023-2024 campaign.
“There are three varieties of blueberries premium, which we have been researching and testing for five years. These guys are very focused on flavor, fruit consistency and post-harvest life. We hope to enter the Asian and European markets with very good acceptance, which are the places that pay the most for varieties premium"He said.
Currently, the company produces the Biloxi, Salvador and Matías varieties, the last two also developed by the company in 2017 and 2020, respectively. Although, as Gereda anticipates, at the end of this year a varietal replacement will be made. “The 90 hectares we have in Biloxi are finished and the three new varieties are going to be produced; in addition, of the 200 hectares (in Chambara) that we are going to incorporate to plant next year”, explained Gereda, who said that for this project he has the financing of 15 million dollars from a Belgian development bank.
The Matías, Salvador and the three varieties that will begin production emerged in Peru, co-owned with the University of Georgia, with which they have an alliance since 2012.
perspectives
For the blueberry campaign that began in July and will last until March, Inka's Berries expects to export 4 million kilos, while for the 2023-2024 season shipments will amount to 7 million kilos, with at least 3 million kilos of the new varieties.
Likewise, Gereda pointed out that, with the new releases, the value per kilogram is projected to improve by an additional 0,50 cents to the average market price.
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