The blueberry harvest in Mexico is already underway, and the first results are highly positive. So far, the fruit is showing very good quality, high firmness, and exceptional sizes, generating optimism among growers as the season progresses.
These were some of the main conclusions shared by Simón Muñoz, international blueberry production advisor at Consultora Agrícola y Comercial Santa María (CASM Blueberries), following his recent technical visit to several productive fields across the country.
According to Muñoz, the plants have been very well managed from both an agronomic and nutritional standpoint. “We are seeing well-balanced plants, with a solid vegetative canopy built during the vegetative growth stage, and a good balance between leaf area and fruit load,” he noted.
He also highlighted the strong pollination process, evidenced by the low presence of Botrytis or other fungi in floral remains and flowers. “There is a high presence of pollinators, especially bees, which has enabled efficient and uniform fruit set,” he added.
Premium fruit and jumbo sizes in the first harvests
Muñoz explained that the fruit being harvested for about a week now, corresponding to the first bloom cycles, is showing excellent firmness, very good appearance, and outstanding sizes. “Measurements with a caliper show fruit of 26, 27, and even 28 millimeters. Currently, around 90% of the harvested fruit corresponds to premium varieties with jumbo condition,” he explained.
The advisor added that growers are very pleased with the development of the season. “A fairly favorable campaign is projected in terms of temperatures, with low fungal pressure, which is generating high production expectations,” he noted.
On the commercial side, Muñoz highlighted that prices in the U.S. market have supported the early arrivals, delivering very attractive returns, especially for premium varieties. “This confirms that the U.S. market is maturing and beginning to favor higher-quality varieties over older, more conventional ones,” he stated
Joint efforts to optimize the season
Finally, Muñoz noted that the technical visit made it possible to carry out nutritional adjustments and corrections to better face the harvest stage, as well as to review soil parameters in some orchards. “There are still details to keep working on, but the joint efforts between advisors and growers will allow us to move forward with the improvement and recovery of the fields. We are very pleased with the visits carried out,” he concluded.
