The future of blueberries also runs through Nanjing. This is the key message at the heart of the presentation of the XIV International Vaccinium Symposium (ISHS), scheduled at the Berry Area (Macfrut) on April 22, 2026, from 12:45 to 1:00 pm, featuring Xiaomin Wang (Agriculture Academy of Nanjing).
The event will offer a preview of one of the most important international scientific gatherings dedicated to blueberries and the Vaccinium genus, which will take place in 2028 in Nanjing, China, in the setting of the “Mem. Sun Yat-Sen” Botanical Garden.
This appointment will be of particular interest to all operators across the supply chain, as it will provide a closer look at China’s increasingly central role in the global development of the sector. At the core of the presentation will be the extraordinary growth of China’s blueberry industry, which in just a few years has transformed an initially marginal crop into one of the most advanced and dynamic segments in the global fresh produce business.
Unprecedented growth
During the event, the evolution of China’s blueberry sector over the last decade will be illustrated. Between 2015 and 2025, China’s blueberry planted area is said to have increased from 20,000 to 110,000 hectares, expanding more than fivefold. Even more striking is the production trend: from an initial 70,000 tons, output is estimated to have reached 957,000 tons in 2025, marking a scale jump with few recent parallels in the international industry landscape.
These figures alone explain China’s growing weight in the global blueberry market, but they become even more significant when considered alongside the speed with which the country has built technical expertise, production capacity, and an increasingly sophisticated industrial structure.
From volumes to technological leadership
According to what will be highlighted during the presentation, in 2020 China overtook the United States, becoming the world’s largest blueberry producer. This milestone is not measured only in quantitative terms, but also reflects the development of a modern, integrated supply chain strongly oriented toward innovation.
The growth of the sector has been accompanied by the development of new varieties, the adoption of precision irrigation techniques, the expansion of soilless cultivation, and the use of artificial intelligence-based fruit sorting systems. It is through this combination of production scale and technological innovation that China is reshaping the international balance of the sector, positioning itself as one of the leading points of reference for research and industrial development in blueberries.
Towards the 2028 international symposium
Xiaomin Wang’s presentation will also be an invitation to look ahead to the XIV International Vaccinium Symposium, which in 2028 will bring researchers, breeders, technicians, and industry operators from around the world to Nanjing. The Chinese city, an ancient imperial capital and a major center for botanical research, is therefore emerging as the ideal venue to discuss the future directions of the sector on a global scale.
For those following the evolution of the blueberry business, the April 22, 2026 event stands out as a valuable opportunity not only to learn more about the 2028 symposium, but also to understand how a decisive part of the sector’s future is now being shaped in the East.
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