Stability and solid returns are now the key factors behind the renewed interest in Chilean blueberries. After several years marked by a loss of competitiveness against varieties grown in tropical and subtropical regions, the local industry has found in varietal renewal and high-potential genetics a concrete path to regain profitability and relevance in international markets.
“Several projects are being activated in Chile,” said Sebastián Ochoa, international consultant at CASM. “For the past few years, planting has resumed in Chile because the blueberry business is very stable and prices have been increasing year after year. The new varieties have allowed well-positioned genetics in the market to command higher prices, resulting in very attractive returns for the business.”
How Chilean Blueberries Lost Ground in Global Markets
“Supply from tropical and subtropical regions began to take market share away from Chilean blueberries and reduced end-consumer demand for the product,” explained Ernesto Pino, General Manager of Fall Creek® Chile. As consumption declined, prices fell, resulting in returns that were far less attractive for growers to remain in the business.
In addition, the logistical collapse during the pandemic—when many containers of Chilean blueberries were unable to ship on time—caused the fruit to arrive in poor condition at destination markets, leading to low returns for growers and a decline in purchase intent for Chilean blueberries in their main export destinations.
The Genetics That Marked the Turning Point
In this context, the purchase of blueberry plants in the country dropped dramatically, falling from between 4 and 5 million plants per year to virtually zero in 2022, according to the executive at Fall Creek® Chile. That same year, the Oregon-based company began developing its facilities to establish itself as a nursery in Chile, a step taken with strong confidence in the genetics of its Sekoya® and Collection® programs.
“We began introducing into Chile the varietal renewal that was already taking place in younger markets, which were betting on the performance of varieties grown in tropical and subtropical regions, such as Sekoya Pop® ‘FCM14-052’ and Sekoya Beauty® ‘FCM12-097’,” said Pino. Fall Creek®’s offering of high-chill genetic material in Chile includes four varieties from the Sekoya® platform (Sekoya Crunch® ‘FC13-083’, Sekoya Grande® ‘FC13-122’, Sekoya Fiesta™ ‘FC13-113’, and Sekoya Nova™ ‘FC15-173’) and three from the Collection® platform (ArabellaBlue® ‘FC14-062’, LoretoBlue™ ‘FC11-118’, and LunaBlue® ‘FC12-205’).
Varietal Renewal Is No Longer an Option
This new scenario quickly translated into a reactivation of plant demand in the country. According to Ernesto Pino, General Manager of Fall Creek® Chile, after a 2022 in which sales were virtually nonexistent, the company reached a volume in 2023 equivalent to 400 hectares planted, or approximately 1.4 million plants.
The trend consolidated in 2024 and 2025, with around 700 hectares per year—well above other varietal alternatives. “Today, we are renewing close to 700 hectares annually with Fall Creek® genetics, while the rest of the varieties do not exceed 150 hectares,” he noted. The company’s goal is to reach an annual replanting of 1,000 hectares by 2028, aiming to recover scale and a relevant volume of Chilean fruit in international markets.
Prize has been another key player in this process of genetic renewal. According to Cristóbal Alessandrini, Country Manager of the exporter in Chile, the company joined the Sekoya® program as a licensee and, from there, drove a significant expansion across the country.
“We undertook a drastic varietal renewal, expanding acreage from the northern to the southern regions,” he said. In the north, Prize planted zero-chill varieties such as Sekoya Pop® ‘FCM14-052’ in areas like Quillota and San Felipe, targeting early production between August and November. In the central-southern zone, the company developed around 270 hectares in Chillán and Los Ángeles, while in the south it added another 80 hectares of Sekoya® plantings.
The exporter’s strategy has focused on premium varieties with early entry into production. “We are already achieving yields of between 8,000 and 10,000 kilos per hectare in the second year, which makes the business far more attractive,” Alessandrini stated.
As Ernesto Pino explained, plant demand is directly linked to the situation of the companies that remain in the business today—those with solid results, reinvestment capacity, and access to capital, whether their own or through private equity and investment funds—which helps explain the current momentum of the renewal process.
The commitment to fully embrace varietal renewal with high-potential genetics is key to explaining the current positive momentum of Chile’s blueberry industry. “Chilean growers have understood that varietal renewal is necessary, and there is growing disinterest in continuing to plant older varieties. Some even say they wish they could graft their old varieties to speed up the renewal process. The challenge today is how quickly we can renew in order for Chile to regain scale, be present on supermarket shelves, and ensure that retailers know Chile is there with a high-quality product,” Pino noted.
A Profitable Alternative Worth Considering
Contrary to common belief, consultant Sebastián Ochoa explained that Chilean growers who have managed their projects with sound planning have maintained business profitability. He also noted that there is currently strong interest from foreign growers in investing in blueberry projects in Chile. “Several of our clients are managing and developing projects, looking for farmland in Chile, and are either planting or about to begin planting soon.”
One example is Grupo BEM, controlled by the Bouchon family, which operates farms in Chile’s Sixth and Seventh Regions and grows a variety of fruit crops. Juan José Bouchon, the company’s General Manager, explained that as part of their strategy to diversify their portfolio, they have launched a blueberry project using container production. “We had never worked with this crop before, and we started the project in 2025, evaluating and becoming familiar with the blueberry industry. In May 2025, we submitted a project that was approved and is now under execution, with planting scheduled for May 2026.”
The project includes 18 hectares of container-grown blueberries, due to the physical and chemical characteristics of the soils in the area. “These hectares were previously planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vineyards, which were removed due to low productivity to make way for a new project that would be sustainable and profitable over time. After extensive research, we decided to move forward with blueberries,” Bouchon said.
Just months before planting begins, Bouchon explained that Sekoya Pop® ‘FCM14-052’ was selected as the variety due to its productivity, returns, and early harvest timing. “We have everything ready to plant in May, with very high expectations. Prize is our licensee, so we have a very solid benchmark. We have already defined the management practices for the project, which gives us peace of mind and confidence. If everything goes well and returns meet expectations, we will continue reinvesting in a second and third stage of blueberries,” he added.
If everything progresses according to plan, the first harvest would take place in November 2027. Regarding potential destinations, the General Manager mentioned several options, but explained that everything will depend on market conditions at that time. “We would be shipping in the second week of November, when Korea appears as a very positive destination for our fruit, with a very active market and strong returns. But if the market tells us that the United States is stronger that week, we will send all our fruit to the markets offering the best returns. We are not going to lock ourselves into a single destination—we will move the fruit to wherever the market is most active and where we can secure the best returns for the company and for the grower.”
Supplying the Market at the Right Time
Beyond improvements in fruit quality and condition, Chilean blueberries are facing a strategic opportunity within the international marketing calendar, particularly as a complement to Peru’s supply. “We are looking to strengthen both the early and late parts of the season,” Alessandrini explained.
In the late segment, February emerges as a window that is still relatively underserved, with lower fruit availability and declining productivity. “We have also strengthened the early part of the season. Contrary to what might be expected, we have performed very well in the north by targeting early market entry at a time when Peru—our main competitor in South America—does not yet have access,” he added.
In a landscape dominated by low- or zero-chill varieties, Chilean production fits naturally as a complementary supplier within the global high-chill segment.
Along these lines, Fall Creek® has focused on the southern part of the country—particularly La Araucanía, Los Ríos, and Los Lagos—regions that offer ideal climatic conditions to fully express the potential of high-chill varieties.
“All the varieties we have introduced show exceptional performance in high-chill areas. The greater the accumulation of chill hours, the better the productivity, earlier harvest timing, and improved fruit flavor,” said Ernesto Pino.
Alessandrini agreed and compared this phenomenon to what has occurred in the cherry industry. “High-chill varieties can only be produced in their respective hemisphere and season. When Chile produces this type of blueberry, there is no equivalent supply in the Northern Hemisphere, which allows us to supply the world with a differentiated fruit, offering greater aroma, flavor, and Brix levels that are highly valued by consumers.”
Addressing Clear Challenges to Build a Robust Supply
Another important factor is the availability of land in these regions, along with their relatively lower exposure to quarantine-related issues. “That is where our current focus lies in order to strengthen this program, and there is significant growth potential there. There is also strong business potential with the resources to move forward, but there is still a lack of knowledge—that is the main challenge, and it is where we are concentrating our efforts today,” Pino emphasized.
“What matters most for Chile is achieving scale, because without it we will not be on the radar—and that is our goal. We want to reach an annual replanting of at least 1,000 hectares, so that within five years there is a relevant volume of Chilean fruit in the market and that this continues to grow,” the Fall Creek® executive said. He also noted that while the investment required for a blueberry project is high compared to other fruit crops, “the certainty of results is also greater. Precisely because of diversification—you have five continents to sell into, more resilient pricing, far less uncertainty, and it is a ‘hyper-sexy’ product that sells well all over the world.”
With a new and solid genetic foundation, clearer commercial windows, and renewed investor interest, Chilean blueberries are seeking to regain scale and reposition themselves as a relevant and reliable player in the global market.
