Even table grape breeders are now turning their attention to blueberries! Blueberries have become one of the world’s fastest-growing fruits in terms of production, consumption, and international trade, as frequently highlighted by EastFruit experts. In contrast, the grape market appears to be stagnating, potentially due to the rising popularity of blueberries.
This trend might explain why Bloom Fresh, a global leader in table grape and cherry breeding, has decided to enter the blueberry market. According to the Fruitnet, Bloom Fresh is acquiring the breeding program of Inka’s Berries, a pioneering Peruvian company known for its development of no-chill blueberry varieties.
Inka’s Berries is the Peruvian firm behind the Abril Blue+ and Alessia Blue+ varieties. It has an extensive pipeline of new, no-chill blueberry selections adapted to diverse growing conditions that are already making inroads in South America, Europe and Africa.
Bloom Fresh said the deal would allow it leverage its global scale in table grapes and cherries breeding to expand on this market growth and unlock the potential of these varieties worldwide.
CEO Josep Estiarte commented: “Inka’s Berries breeding programme is unique in its ability to cultivate blueberries in new regions and geographies, and we are thrilled to bring their expertise and groundbreaking varieties into the Bloom Fresh family. Together, we will continue our mission to drive sustainability and innovation in fruit breeding, offering growers and consumers around the world the highest quality fruit varieties”.
Read also: Blueberry harvest in 2024 will be the best ever – British producer
Carlos Gereda Cornejo, founder and chairman of Inka’s Berries, added: “As the original no-chill blueberry breeding programme in Peru, Inka’s Berries varieties are uniquely positioned to transform the presence of blueberries in Peru and around the world.
“We are very proud of what we have achieved to introduce this amazing breeding programme to the world. We feel that now is the perfect time to partner with a forward-thinking company like Bloom Fresh to expand the footprint and accelerate the impact of our blueberry programme worldwide.”
Bloom said the acquisition strengthens its ambition of increasing fruit consumption worldwide by offering premium, high-quality varieties that can be grown in diverse climates. This move also aligns with the company’s sustainability goals, focusing on providing innovative solutions to some of the major challenges facing the fruit industry such as climate change and food waste.
Alvaro Muñoz, CEO of AMFresh, the majority stakeholder and primary owner of Bloom Fresh, said: “I take great pride in the journey we are on at AMFresh, driven by the passion and ingenuity of our genetic teams who are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
“The integration of Inka’s Berries into the Bloom Fresh portfolio is a testament to our commitment to innovation and sustainability. These unprecedented no-chill blueberry varieties offer a glimpse of the future—where agriculture can adapt and thrive even in the most challenging climates.”
The use of the site materials is free if there is a direct and open for search engines hyperlink to a specific publication of the East-Fruit.com website.
