Is it possible to answer the question unequivocally? Get the opinion of experts in the blueberry industry, with a focus on cold Europe

Liberty variety

The climate of most European countries allows the cultivation of varieties of the northern type, which are characterized by a fairly high resistance to low temperatures in winter, as well as by a high requirement of cold, necessary for the correct formation of flower buds and fructification.

The varieties can be divided into two types: high cold (they require 800-1000 hours of cold) and low cold (150-800 hours of cool weather).

The varieties of the first group have dominated the blueberry plantations in northern Europe. The most popular are Bluecrop, Chandler, Bluegold, Liberty, Toro, Spartan, Patriot, and Aurora. Among the new creations from genetic improvement, this group includes varieties such as Megasblue, Titanium, Cargo, Calypso, Valor, Last Call.

A large part of the new varieties already belongs to the medium cold group, which means that they require fewer hours of cold, but they can also be susceptible to frost during the winter, especially when temperatures are below -15-20 ° C.

The group of cold varieties

The group of medium cold varieties includes varieties such as Drapper, Top Shelf, Peachy Blue or Orsorno. A separate group are the varieties with low cold requirement and those that do not require cold, which are intended for cultivation in hot climates, where there is no risk of temperature drops below 0 ° C.

The consumer wants good tasting and long-lasting varieties, and the supermarket wants varieties that the consumer is happy to come back for. These are the challenges of blueberry growers around the world and it is one of the key points if we want to talk about the future of this species in intensive and professional cultivation - he says Krzysztof Zabówka, Managing Director of Daifressh Berry.

Will expectations be met?

Breeders are offering more and more varieties but these are not immediately accepted by growers. It is important to assess the production values ​​of a given variety and see how they behave in the local climate. We are constantly looking for the perfect variety, but it is a difficult task, he says. Jerzy wilczewski, owner of a farm in Białousy.

The blueberry production on this farm is already based on "new generation" varieties such as Last Call, Cargo, Calypso, Draper, although varieties such as Liberty, Aurora, Duke and other older ones are still cultivated.

Each variety has its advantages and disadvantages. Liberty is good and fertile, but its fruit is too soft; Chandler has big, beautiful fruit, but too soft for export; Aurora has a hard but too acidic fruit, says a grower from Białous.

Most of the fruit that is produced for export has to be firm, durable, aromatic and of good color. Much depends on the variety, but also on the treatment and management of the plantation.

Quality fruit

In recent years, the quality requirements for blueberries have been very basic. The blueberry was simply a "blue ball" packaged in a small bag. Today they must meet quality requirements to be the product that people want to eat, retailers sell, and allow producers to prosper.

Although each of these groups has different objectives and priorities, the general objective is common: a really high and repeatable fruit quality, thanks to which it is possible to develop the entire industry and prosper in the market, he emphasizes Andrea Perger from Fall Creek Farm & Nursery. This American company is a leader in obtaining new varieties of blueberries. The latter ('FC11-118', 'Cargo', 'Blue Ribbon', Top Shelf, 'ArabellaBlue', 'Last Call', 'LunaBlue' (FC12-205), 'PeachyBlue' (ZF08-029)) satisfy the modern market needs.

The new varieties of blueberries seem very attractive because they ensure high quality fruits (size, crispness, hardness, flavor, shelf life). New varieties are generally easy to grow and can be harvested mechanically (erect shoots, upright).

This year, when in many areas of Eastern Europe the temperatures fall below -30 ° C, it will be possible to value such an important characteristic of the new varieties as their resistance to frost.