Productivity, climate, and commercial consistency will define the new blueberry genetics

Genetics and market

Productivity, climate, and commercial consistency will define the new blueberry genetics

At the XLII International Blueberries Seminar Trujillo 2026, representatives from Fall Creek Peru, Planasa Peru, BioTECNOS and ByBlue BV analyzed how varietal replacement should balance productivity, climate adaptation, post-harvest life, consumer experience and supply reliability to sustain the value of Peruvian blueberries.

17/07/2026

The varietal renewal of Peruvian blueberries is no longer at the same stage as it was a decade ago. After an initial wave that allowed the industry to expand, new varieties will have to demonstrate performance, marketability, and adaptability in a business with greater climate pressure, more differentiated markets, and consumers who demand greater consistency.

That was one of the central themes of the panel “Genetics, market demands and fruit quality”, held during the XLII International Blueberries Seminar Trujillo 2026, with the participation of Juan Miguel Nemi, commercial manager of Fall Creek Peru; Marcelo Luengo, general director of Planasa Peru; Borys Chong, R&D Director of BioTECNOS; and Horacio Ozer Ami, CEO & Founder of ByBlue BV.

A new stage of varietal replacement

According to Juan Miguel Nemi, Peru is already moving towards a new generation of varieties.

“We are in a new generation of varieties,” he noted.

The representative from Fall Creek Peru noted that the first wave that boosted the growth of Peruvian blueberries more than a decade ago is being surpassed, although there is still a validation process to be completed for the new materials that the genetic companies are testing.

In today's analysis, the panel's analysis reveals that field performance alone is insufficient: arrival quality, consistency across destinations, and the ability to sustain commercial programs are also crucial. For Nemi, this latter point will be key to maintaining one of Peru's key achievements: reaching more markets with high-quality products and a stronger presence throughout the year.

Juan Miguel Nemi, International Blueberries Seminar Trujillo 2026 © Blueberries Consulting

Productivity, climate and quality: the new balance

The discussion also highlighted a tension running through the business: quality doesn't replace productivity. The fruit needs to be firmer, tastier, and more consistent, but the business still needs volume.

Marcelo Luengo, general manager of Planasa Peru, was direct: “If I don’t have kilos, I don’t have a business.”

For Luengo, varietal selection isn't defined by a single attribute. Productivity, flavor, firmness, size, and climate adaptation must all be considered together. A variety can deliver outstanding fruit, but without profitability for the grower, it's out of the equation.

Climate also gained priority. Luengo stated that since 2023 Peru has experienced a before and after, with increasingly frequent discussions about temperature, flowering, fruit sizes, and the behavior of varieties in the face of more variable conditions.

Marcelo Luengo, International Blueberries Seminar Trujillo 2026 © Blueberries Consulting

Borys Chong, from BioTECNOS, agreed that tolerance to heat and water stress should become a priority criterion. It's not just about heat tolerance or water efficiency: there's also the risk of new pests and diseases, and over-reliance on a few varieties.

In more uncertain seasons, that tolerance will be part of a variety's ability to sustain productivity and quality.

The consumer plays a role in the varietal decision

According to Borys Chong, genetic programs are advancing, but consumer demands are changing even faster. Today, consumers expect more flavor, freshness, quality, consistency, and prices that will allow for increased consumption.

The evaluation, then, doesn't end in the field. It's also tested in transit, at the destination, on the shelf, at the point of purchase, and at the point of consumption. The diversity of the blueberry can work in its favor, provided it results in a more consistent consumer experience.

Horacio Ozer Ami, drawing on his experience in the European market, added that blueberries fit well into the retail model because they combine health benefits, convenience, availability, and value per square meter. However, this advantage depends on a reliable supply.

For retail, the difference will lie in the regularity of supply, the volume committed, and the ability to meet programs week after week.

Borys Chong, International Blueberries Seminar Trujillo 2026 © Blueberries Consulting

The real test happens after the trip.

Ozer Ami highlighted a gap that is often overlooked in varietal evaluation. “The grower sees their fruit in their field, in their yard, and the consumer tastes it between 42 and 45 days later,” he stated.

This difference changes how a variety is evaluated. It's not enough for the fruit to look good at harvest; validation must incorporate the evolution of firmness, flavor, and condition during transit and distribution.

According to Ozer Ami, producers and consumers have more in common than it might seem. Both need a good post-harvest shelf life: producers to obtain a return on investment and a good price; consumers to receive fruit that maintains its quality and encourages repeat purchases.

Thus, the varietal decision ends up being linked to the commercial result at the destination.

Horacio Ozer Ami, International Blueberries Seminar Trujillo 2026 © Blueberries Consulting

Validation, support, and business model

The panel also made room for self-criticism of the industry: incomplete validations, management practices inherited from other varieties, and a lack of technical information to compare results.

Nemi argued that a new variety cannot reach the field on its own: it needs technical support, information, guidance, and clear market direction. The decision, he maintained, requires transparency and data so that producers can make informed comparisons.

Luengo was more self-critical. He recalled that, in previous stages, the industry often provided "codes" without a clear management strategy or sufficient technical data sheet. It also happened that producers tested these materials under unsuitable conditions, for example, in areas that were not representative of the field or under the same irrigation and fertilization as other varieties.

The self-criticism points to a specific problem: many past validations failed to truly measure the potential of the materials. For those currently evaluating replacement stock, the key is not just accessing new genetics, but testing them with data, specific management practices, and a clear commercial objective.

Panel “Genetics, market demands and fruit quality” International Blueberries Seminar Trujillo 2026 © Blueberries Consulting

Trust and scale to sustain Peru's value

Ozer Ami brought the discussion to the current scale of Peru as a source of origin. He argued that the country made a difference 10 or 12 years ago by offering the European market a reliable, consistent product with a good shelf life compared to other overseas supplies.

That reliability helped open doors for Peruvian blueberries in Europe. But maintaining it with a much larger industry is another challenge.

“The challenge lies in how to maintain that confidence in the product with these production levels,” he stated.

For Ozer Ami, doing it with 5.000 hectares was one thing; doing it with around 30.000 hectares and with recurring climate threats, such as El Niño, requires a different capacity for organization, integration and consistency.

In retail, consistency is just as important as volume. Large chains will tend to favor reliable suppliers capable of maintaining quality, volume, and continuity. In this process, genetics will be a central element, but not the only one.

There's also an economic consideration behind the replacement. If varietal cycles are shortening, replanting must be justified by increased productivity, improved quality, and a sustainable return.

For producers and exporters, the discussion comes down to a concrete decision: with which variety, management, technical support, commercial destination and production system they will compete in the coming years.

Genetics will continue to be key, but its value will not only lie in the material: it will depend on how much it contributes to sustaining productivity, quality and trust from the field to the consumer.