The international blueberry production advisor at Consultora Agrícola y Comercial Santa María (CASM Blueberries), Simón Muñoz, recently visited blueberry fields in Bulgaria, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, and Kenya. The objective of the visits to evaluate plantation development and provide agronomic recommendations aimed at improving orchard productivity and plant health.
According to Muñoz, one of the visits took place at a farm located in the city of Plovdiv, about an hour and a half from Sofia, Bulgaria. “It is a field with Sekoya varieties that require a high number of chill hours. It also has some production of open varieties, which are showing good flowering and development,” he explained.
The advisor explained that during the visit, fertilization parameters and management protocols focused on proper plant formation were provided. “Progress is being made in the plant training process, so we expect the field to achieve good development along with strong production,” he stated.
Turkey: High-Standard Orchards and Positive Yield Projections
Muñoz also visited fields in Altinova, an area located near Istanbul, Turkey. “It is a very high-standard orchard in terms of construction, design, and technology use. It is among the most advanced models in productive orchard design,” he highlighted.
The project already covers nearly 40 hectares and includes an initial stage with Sekoya varieties that require high chill hours, as well as a second phase with new plantings of this genetic line.
According to the specialist, the plants are showing very good development, with adequate fruit load, good plant health, and flowering levels in line with expectations.
“Although the weather has been somewhat unfavorable over the last month, with very cold days and rainfall, the delay in flowering and production is not expected to exceed two to three weeks. We believe the orchard can achieve yields of between 2.8 and 3 kilograms per plant in its first season, reflecting very good overall orchard management,” he commented.
Morocco: Focus on Pruning, Plant Health, and Thermal Stress Management
The visit continued in Morocco, beginning in the Agadir area, where the team visited a producer developing Sekoya Pop varieties in pots, established in greenhouses previously used for tomato production that were later adapted for blueberry cultivation, showing good crop development and establishment.
Later, the team toured the Larache and Kenitra regions, where they worked alongside a local cooperative. “All the visits were focused on providing pruning guidelines and protocols to maintain field hygiene and reduce susceptibility to wood diseases after pruning,” explained Muñoz.
He also noted that recommendations were provided regarding rooting strategies, vegetative fertilization, and thermal stress management, with the aim of stimulating plant development following pruning activities.
Egypt: Growing Interest in the Development of the Blueberry Industry
Muñoz visited a producer located south of Cairo, Egypt, where the advisory work focused on correcting pruning practices and strengthening agronomic strategies adapted to the area’s climatic conditions.
“The visit focused on making pruning corrections, providing guidelines to maintain orchard health, and reviewing rooting, fertilization, and biostimulation strategies to counteract the effects of the thermal stress typical of the region,” he stated.
The advisor also highlighted the country’s productive potential to continue expanding blueberry cultivation. “Egypt has strong potential to keep growing in blueberry production. There is a great deal of enthusiasm for developing the Egyptian blueberry industry,” he noted.
Kenya Boosts Blueberry Production
Finally, Muñoz visited blueberry fields in Kenya, near Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley. The area is located at 1,800 meters above sea level and, although it lies on the Equator, the climatic conditions are favorable for blueberry cultivation.
“It is an area where the crop shows very good vegetative development, and we estimate that, in productive terms, it has great potential. There are older varieties and open varieties from the Fall Creek Collection program, as well as Sekoya Pop, which is already beginning to be planted on a large scale,” Muñoz explained.
He also explained that the project aims to reach 100 planted hectares. “There are currently around 20 hectares, but if we are able to cycle plant development to focus production between June and September, this project could expand to those 100 hectares,” he stated.
According to Muñoz, the producer’s goal is to concentrate a large portion of Sekoya Pop production on supplying the European market, while also maintaining a stable year-round supply for other destinations.
“The idea is to supply the European market while keeping part of the production active throughout the 52 weeks of the year, in order to also serve smaller markets such as the Middle East and the domestic Kenyan market. The climatic and temperature conditions are highly favorable for the crop, so we believe it is possible to produce year-round and develop a significant export volume,” he said.
Muñoz added that greenhouse trials are currently being carried out to evaluate potential advantages compared to tunnel cultivation.
“Trials are being conducted to analyze whether greenhouse cultivation offers advantages over tunnel management. We are still evaluating the results, but I see a producer who is highly committed to the crop and to the development of the project. There is a strong desire to continue growing,” he concluded.
