The current Peruvian blueberry campaign is approaching its final stage, showing, in general, excellent physiological and vegetative plant development despite the high temperatures recorded during the summer. This was confirmed by Simón Muñoz, international blueberry production advisor at Consultora y Agrícola Comercial Santa María, CASM Blueberries, following a recent visit to the country’s production fields.
Over the past two weeks, the specialist toured orchards located near Trujillo together with the technical team from Innovak Global, where they evaluated crop conditions and provided strategies aimed at mitigating the abiotic stress typical of this time of year, characterized by high temperatures and a high vapor pressure deficit.
“Most orchards in the area have already been pruned, so the plants have been in active growth for a couple of weeks. Overall, very good vegetative development and a favorable response are being observed. However, in some orchards—especially in the Virú area—symptoms of heat stress and leaf burn caused by high temperatures are evident,” explained Muñoz.
The visits continued at other farms near Trujillo, where post-pruning recovery and vegetative development were monitored. “At this stage, the focus is on implementing biostimulation strategies that support the physiological recovery of the plants and promote vigorous vegetative growth, which is key for the next production cycle,” the advisor noted.
The tour concluded in fields operated by the company Agrofutura, located in the Nepeña area, in the Áncash region, where harvest is still underway. “The team is very satisfied, as there are still about two weeks of harvest remaining with promising volumes. Although the plants show the typical wear of the end of the season, no significant deterioration or severe stress symptoms are observed.”
The advisor added that the fruit maintains good quality for this time of the season, with relevant volumes. “In addition, pruning strategies, root development, and foliar strengthening were reviewed—key aspects we aim to address at this stage,” Muñoz concluded.
