As part of the technical advisory services that CASM Blueberries provides in Peru, Antonia Maggiolo, Head of Research and Development (R&D) at the consultancy, visited several blueberry production fields in the Ica region to evaluate crop conditions and define management strategies aimed at maintaining productivity and fruit quality throughout the season.
Technical Advisory Focused on Maintaining Fruit Size and Quality
Maggiolo visited the fields of Proagro and POB, where she observed that the crops were in good overall condition.
The plants showed healthy vegetative and root development, with optimal root establishment in containers and favorable productive conditions.
During the field visits, she also identified several challenges typical of this stage of the crop, including the presence of mealybugs, the risk of Powdery Mildew, and the first signs of fruit dehydration.
The visit also provided an opportunity to review the nutritional balance corresponding to the production stage and analyze strategies to maintain fruit size during the peak harvest period and through the end of the season. In addition, different management alternatives were evaluated to mitigate plant stress, reduce fruit drop, and enhance key quality attributes such as firmness, fruit weight, and overall fruit quality.
“The main focus was to maintain fruit size and quality throughout the season, taking into account the characteristics of each variety and the management tools available to achieve this objective,” said Maggiolo.
Review of Research Methodologies with Innovak Global
As part of her agenda in Peru, Maggiolo also held a technical working session with the Innovak Global team to exchange knowledge on research and development methodologies.
During the meeting, they reviewed different approaches to implementing blueberry trials, evaluation strategies, and the production objectives currently demanded by growers, with the aim of strengthening applied research and generating valuable information to support field decision-making.
New Trials to Improve Fruit Quality
The visit concluded at Don Ricardo, where two new agronomic trials were established to improve blueberry fruit quality.
The first trial will evaluate the effect of plant growth regulators on fruit size, while the second will assess the use of amino acids and seaweed extracts as tools to enhance variables such as firmness, fruit weight, and the commercial quality of blueberries.
These activities are part of the ongoing work carried out by CASM Blueberries in collaboration with growers and companies across the industry, promoting an agricultural approach based on technical evaluation, applied research, and the continuous improvement of production systems.
