Future of blueberry season remains uncertain in northern Peru

Elizabeth Miranda, commercial manager of Agrobusiness International Peru, expressed concern about blueberry production in the northern part of the country for the 2024 season. During her recent visits to growers in the region, Miranda noted uneven development in the plantations due to pruning techniques and unusual weather conditions.

 

Pruning done in January shows promising progress for this season, while pruning done in late February and March has shown significant delay. The lack of vigour in some plants is attributed to unanticipated low temperatures, mainly affecting the Ventura variety, which also suffers from its high sensitivity to solar radiation. Miranda recommended replacing this variety, as it is the worst performer under stress conditions.

In contrast, the Biloxi variety shows signs of recovery, although still with low vigour, which negatively impacts fruit size. However, varieties such as Sekoya pop, Mágica and Madeira have responded well and show high yield potential. Miranda also mentioned having heard of new varieties with great potential, although he does not yet have detailed information on these.

 

Miranda concluded that the year remains uncertain for the blueberry industry, especially for the more widespread varieties such as Biloxi and Ventura. He stressed the importance of being alert to changes in agronomic management, especially in bud induction, where it is recommended not to delay the necessary interventions to ensure optimal plant development.