The ranking of the most planted blueberry varieties in Peru has the top two spots occupied by cultivars exclusively marketed by Fall Creek Farm & Nursery.
Ventura leads the 2024 ranking with over 5000 hectares: this variety was the first Southern Highbush variety developed by Fall Creek.
| Variety | Hectares | % | Breeder / Developer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ventura | 5113 | 28% | Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, USA |
| Sekoya Pop | 2432 | 13% | Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, USA |
| Biloxi | 2325 | 13% | University of Southern Mississippi, USA |
| Magica | 1020 | 6% | OZblu® (United Exports), Australia |
| Rocio | 921 | 5% | Hortifrut, Chile |
| Atlasblue | 822 | 5% | Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, USA |
| Emerald | 674 | 4% | University of Florida, USA |
| Rosita | 550 | 3% | Driscoll's, USA |
| Sekoya Beauty | 426 | 2% | Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, USA |
| Raymi | 386 | 2% | Driscoll's, USA |
| Eureka Sunrise | 346 | 2% | Mountain Blue Orchards, Australia |
| Biancablu | 282 | 2% | Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, USA |
| Madeira | 253 | 1% | OZblu® (United Exports), Australia |
| Kirra | 227 | 1% | Mountain Blue Orchards, Australia |
| Kestrel | 213 | 1% | Mountain Blue Orchards, Australia |
| Arana | 208 | 1% | Hortifrut, Chile |
| Matias | 180 | 1% | Bloom Fresh |
| Other | 1744 | 10% |
The Rise of Sekoya Pop and the Decline of Biloxi
Until 2020, Biloxi was the most widely planted variety in Peru, but in 2021 it was surpassed by Ventura, and now accounts for 13% with 2325 hectares.
In 2016, out of the 3926 hectares of blueberries planted in Peru, 60% were Biloxi, 12% Rocio, and 10% Ventura. In 2021, Ventura climbed the rankings to become the leading variety with 32% of the total, followed by Biloxi with 30% (4980 hectares).
However, Sekoya Pop has once again reshaped the varietal landscape in recent years. This variety, licensed to a limited pool of companies, has quickly established itself as the leading premium segment variety.
China: A Target for Premium
One-third of the blueberries from the Sekoya program are destined for the United States and Canada, one-third for Europe and the United Kingdom, and the rest for Asian markets. Among these regions, Asia is experiencing the fastest growth. Of the 15 members of the Sekoya platform, nine had introduced Sekoya blueberries into the Chinese market by 2023, including Agrovision, Agroberries, Alpine Fresh, Joy Wing Mau, and Prize.
In 2024, additional members entered the Chinese market, driven by consumer interest and Sekoya's sales performance in Asia.
During this season, Sekoya Pop's arrivals in Europe remained extremely limited.
Overall, Fall Creek varieties account for 50% of Peru's blueberry production. Cultivars developed by breeders Ozblu (7%), Hortifrut (6%), Driscoll's (5%), and MBO (4%) are also widespread in Peru. The Peruvian breeding program Inkas Berries, which includes Matias with 180 hectares (1%), was recently acquired by Bloom Fresh.
