Prominent professionals from Peru and Chile participated in the panel discussion: “Main challenges in the harvest, logistics, and post-harvest of blueberries in Peru” which was carried out within the framework of the XXXIV International Blueberries Seminar developed in Lima.
The panel was moderated by Agr. Eng. Ph.D. Bruno Defilippi (Chile), INIA researcher and international consultant. Also participating were Haydee Quevedo, Driscoll's QAFSRSC Manager; the Agr. Engineer M.Sc. Ph.D. Claudia moggia, a researcher at the University of Talca; and Agr. MS. Phytopathology, Walter Apaza Tapia, from the Agrarian UN La Molina.

CHALLENGES IN THE HARVEST
When asked about the challenges in blueberry harvesting, logistics, and post-harvest, Haydee Quevedo noted that the issue of product stability during long journeys has been a recurring challenge. In this regard, she emphasized the importance of promoting post-harvest technologies to preserve product quality.
Walter Apaza of UNALM mentioned that no two harvest seasons are the same, and that climatic conditions in each region are distinct, so each company faces different challenges in blueberry production. However, he pointed out that the appearance of the Alternaria fungus on the plants is an obstacle to overcome, a challenge directly related to the overripeness of the fruit. Given this, he emphasized that it is the company that must adapt harvest management to the characteristics of its varieties.

For researcher Claudia Moggia, varieties with shorter harvest windows respond better to longer harvest intervals. Shorter harvest intervals significantly disrupt the bunch, creating an imbalance in fruit growth that leads to earlier ripening. She also emphasized keeping in mind the genetics associated with the environment. "This combination is important for choosing the best harvest management," she mentioned.

PREDICTING THE SHELF LIFE OF THE FRUIT
When moderator Bruno Defilippi asked if there are variables that allow for predicting the fruit's shelf life, Quevedo mentioned that there is no decisive factor that allows for this prediction. It is an accumulation of factors that must be monitored, since it is unknown whether the fruit will behave the same throughout the season. In this regard, he emphasized that the use of technology is becoming increasingly specialized to solve specific problems and must go hand in hand with the operational aspect of the harvest.

LOGISTICS, A VITAL FACTOR
For Quevedo, the speed with which fruit reaches the cold storage area must be paramount. In recent years, Peruvian companies have worked to ensure their pre-cold storage chains are as close to their cold storage as possible, focusing on rapidly expanding their cold chain at ports.
Dr. Moggia agreed that the industry has understood the importance of temperature and is more concerned with creating the complete cold chain.

We look forward to seeing you at our next event, 35th International Blueberry Seminar, Chile to be held this coming April 10th.

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