Varietal turnover in Peru is emerging as a transformation that is reshaping the blueberry production model In a scenario marked by sustained volume growth, greater market demands, and increasingly intense competition, the Peruvian industry has accelerated the adoption of new varieties as a key strategy to maintain profitability and raise quality standards.
Today, varietal decisions are no longer based only on agronomic criteria, but also on a long-term commercial vision. Producers seek fruit that combines high yield, excellent condition at destination, good performance during long-distance transportation, and a superior consumer experience. In this context, genetics has become one of the main tools to organize supply, manage production peaks, and differentiate the product in international markets.
This process has begun to gradually replace traditional varieties such as Biloxi and Ventura, which led the expansion of Peruvian blueberries for years but now face limitations in terms of firmness, postharvest quality, and commercial flexibility compared to the new generation of premium genetics.
For example, new varieties have begun to take the lead, gradually replacing Biloxi and Ventura. Among the most notable are OZblu Magica from United Exports, Sekoya Pop® ‘FCM14-052’ and Sekoya Beauty® ‘FCM12-097’ from Fall Creek®’s Sekoya® program, and ‘FCM-14057’ from the Collection® program. From Planasa, Blue Madeira®, Blue Maldiva®, and Blue Manila® stand out, while Eureka Gold (MBO) is highlighted by Family Farms Perú.
According to Proarándanos, approximately 4,000 hectares of blueberries will enter production during the 2026–2027 season, mainly driven by new varieties. This growth reinforces Peru’s position as the world’s leading exporter of blueberries but also presents significant challenges in terms of managing volumes, prices, and differentiation.
For Dr. Patricio Muñoz, an academic specializing in blueberry genetic improvement and professor at the University of Florida (USA), the Peruvian industry is at a turning point. “Peru is reaching a very important level of maturity in terms of volume. If this growth is not properly managed, it can lead to significant impacts on prices. The relationship between supply and demand is clear: when volume increases, price tends to fall.”
However, the expert emphasizes that there are tools to mitigate this risk, with varietal selection being one of the most relevant.
Flattening the Curve: One of the Major Challenges
One of the most repeated concepts in the Peruvian industry is the need to flatten the production curve, meaning better distribution of volumes throughout the season to avoid excessive concentrations during specific periods.
“Ventura is still the number one variety in Peru, and most of that fruit is harvested almost simultaneously. This creates a very steep curve with little handling flexibility,” explains Muñoz.
According to the expert, selecting early varieties is one of the most effective strategies to address this problem. “Incorporating earlier genetics than Ventura allows for volume to be moved before the traditional peak. It may also be interesting to produce some late fruit, but today the greatest opportunity is clearly in the early window, where there is a lot of proven genetics with excellent results.”
Variety Selection Criteria
Varietal selection has become increasingly complex. It is no longer enough to have a productive plant; today, a complete package of attributes is required.
According to Roger Horak, founder and CEO of United Exports, the company that has led the global expansion of OZblu, “All varieties must have good fruit quality at destination. What does that mean? That all fruit must be firm, sweet, and have good flavor. It must arrive firm at its destination, so it must withstand at least 30 days of sea transit and have two weeks of postharvest life after that. This is the standard by which we evaluate varieties.”
The second point is yield, where they seek to produce at least 30 tons per hectare as a minimum yield. The third point, which Horak emphasizes and is probably one of the most important, is climate adaptability. “We want to be able to plant a variety in different regions and get the same quality fruit. These are the main attributes we look for. Of course, disease resistance is also important, and we pay attention to that, but the points mentioned are our primary priorities,” he says.
From Fall Creek® Peru, Julio Zavala, General Manager, emphasizes that varietal success depends not only on genetics but also on technical support for the producer. “Our agronomists work directly in the field, guiding the producer to achieve good yields. First, we aim for the kilos that allow the business to break even, and then we work on pruning, nutrition, and irrigation to achieve high-caliber, firm, and high-quality fruit.”
Zavala highlights that Fall Creek® has a wide genetic diversity, with varieties with both low and high chill requirements, allowing production seasons to complement each other across different producing countries. “In Chile, for example, we work with high-cold requirement varieties that complement very well with the genetics we have in Peru. This allows producers to view the blueberry business in a more global context.”
Rusticity, Sustainability, and Adaptation to Multiple Realities
Although nearly 90% of Peru’s production is concentrated on the coast, there are multiple microclimates and considerable heterogeneity among producers.
For Marcelo Luengo, General Manager of Planasa Peru, this scenario requires prioritizing genetic rusticity. “Peru has more than 27,000 hectares distributed among hundreds of producers, with varying levels of management, experience, and economic conditions. Many genetic programs face scenarios that are not ideal, but producers still expect fruit with great size, crispiness, sweetness, and high productivity.”
For this reason, Planasa has focused its work on developing sustainable varieties over time. “We seek genetics that adapt to different conditions and that not only perform well in the first few years. We want varieties that maintain their productivity, that do not collapse in the third or fourth year, and that allow for the construction of long-term businesses,” says Luengo.
Tolerance to pests and diseases has also become a central focus. “Markets are imposing more and more restrictions. We need varieties that allow for reduced phytosanitary applications and maintain the crop safe without compromising productivity,” adds Luengo.
Varieties Leading the Genetic Turnover
From United Exports, Horak comments that OZblu is a portfolio of varieties. “Our current leading commercial variety is Magica, which has achieved exceptional success, largely due to its high yields for producers. It also stands out for its postharvest life, flavor, and consistent performance.”
Horak also highlights varieties such as Andrea, known for its significant yields and super jumbo berries, as one that can surpass Magica in income per hectare. The line has grown to the point where we can now produce blueberries 52 weeks a year in both South Africa and Australia, achieving exceptional yields. Producers have seen first-hand the profitability of this genetics, and at the end of the day, that’s what drives income everywhere,” he notes.
In the Fall Creek® portfolio, Sekoya Pop® ‘FCM14-052’ has consolidated as one of the most successful varieties in Peru. “The demand for premium fruit in the U.S., Europe, and Asia continues to grow, and Sekoya Pop® ‘FCM14-052’ meets those standards: good size, crunchy texture, balanced brix-acid ratio, and excellent postharvest quality,” explains Zavala.
Another key attribute is its timing. “The bulk of Sekoya Pop® ‘FCM14-052’ is harvested before Peru’s export peak, which occurs in October and November. This allows access to better prices and reduces commercial pressure.”
For producers who prefer more flexible commercial schemes, Fall Creek® offers alternatives like ‘FCM14-057’ and ‘FCM17-132’, early and highly productive varieties with good size and firmness.
Planasa, for its part, has identified solid performance in varieties like Blue Madeira®, Blue Manila®—with extra-early production—and Blue Maldiva®, positioned in the premium segment. “Out of the six varieties we have, three have shown outstanding performance due to their commercial and agronomic attributes. Among them, Blue Madeira® stands out as one of the main alternatives for its excellent adaptation and sustained performance in the country. Blue Manila® also stands out, as an early variety that allows production to begin in May, especially in plantings done in spring.”
According to Luengo: “We are currently positioning Blue Maldiva® in the premium segment, a variety that stands out for its flavor, size, and productivity. It was introduced in Peru a couple of years ago, and we expect to have more conclusive results in the next two years. All signs point to it being one of the most in-demand varieties within the industry.”
These varieties are established in both main productive zones and emerging areas, including Lambayeque, La Libertad, Ica, Nasca, and Arequipa, along with new development hubs located between Nasca and Ica. “We have obtained very positive results in Piura, a high-temperature tropical region where other varieties have struggled to thrive. In this context, our varieties have shown broad adaptability, allowing them to establish themselves in various agroclimatic conditions in Peru,” explains Luengo.
A concrete example of the new varietal approach is Eureka Gold (MBO) from Family Farms Peru. Its agricultural manager, Juan Pablo Bentin, highlights that the company has the world’s largest commercial field of this variety. “The quality of Eureka Gold is very consistent throughout the season, it has a high percentage of jumbo fruit—over 70% above 19 mm—and an extraordinary postharvest life. All this without neglecting the characteristic flavor and firmness that MBO varieties always offer. Furthermore, it is highly productive and shows high harvest efficiency.”
Challenges in Introducing New Genetics
Despite advances, the introduction of new varieties still presents various challenges. “The biggest challenge is the time required to validate a variety. Planting a variety costs a lot of money, and if it doesn’t turn out to be as successful as expected, the cost is even greater.” Therefore, the validation process involves ensuring that the genetic material has been tested in the market and the growing conditions where it will be established before planting it on a large scale. “I wouldn’t say it’s a major barrier, but rather a matter of time,” adds Horak.
From Fall Creek®, Zavala explains that every variety goes through a learning curve. “Factors such as climate, water, or sunlight cause genetics to express differently. Our goal is to shorten that curve so the producer adopts the variety with more confidence.”
Luengo adds that a key challenge is the availability of labor. “The surface area continues to grow, and labor will become increasingly scarce. For this reason, we need varieties with high productivity and more concentrated harvests.”
Looking Forward: Quality, Profitability, and Differentiation
Looking to the future, experts agree that quality and profitability will be the main differentiation factors. According to Horak, “Peru must maintain its leadership: it is the largest blueberry exporting country, with a large cultivated area and high yields. However, the biggest challenge the country faces is replacing the varieties that the market no longer demands. Biloxi is a classic example, and Ventura is another case where the market no longer responds in the same way.”
He adds that the sooner these varieties are replaced by higher-quality ones, the better the prospects for the entire Peruvian industry. “This is because consumers who buy blueberries and have a bad experience are unlikely to repurchase them. Therefore, the goal should be to generate repeat purchases, ensuring that consumers choose Peruvian blueberries with the confidence that they will receive high-quality fruit,” he stresses.
Meanwhile, Zavala states, “Working with premium varieties is no longer an option, it is a requirement to survive in this industry.”
Luengo points to profitability as the central axis of varietal turnover. “Four years ago, only 20% of the surface area was planted with new genetics; today, it is close to 50%. This reduces costs, improves quality, and increases demand.”
“The quality standard today is far superior to what it was two or three years ago. Every producer must provide better quality fruit so that demand grows and prices remain stable,” concludes Bentin.
