France and Belgium still uncharted territory for Sekoya berries

With a selection of five blueberry varieties, the Sekoya® program now spans global cultivation in 18 countries across 10,000 hectares in both zero- and low-chill as well as mid- and high-chill environments. "We are eager to introduce a new variety in the late low chill segment for cultivation in areas including northern Morocco and Huelva for this time of year. This will ensure we have Sekoya berries of consistent quality available 52 weeks a year. Next week, we're going to review the selections, and the latest introduction won't be far behind," says Value Chain & Retail Manager Hans Liekens .

The Spanish and Moroccan seasons have gone well, according to Hans. "In Spain, besides cultivation in Huelva, we're seeing more and more Sekoya berries being planted in other regions such as Valencia and La Mancha. The cooler nights there are actually ideal for blueberries, shifting the harvest period so that the seasons align more seamlessly.

Previously, we had more peaks in supply and a quieter period after the Spanish season, but now we can transition smoothly to Serbian berries. In Morocco too, we saw many satisfied faces and the growers had excellent quality fruit this season."

"Besides the benefits of firmness, large size, flavor, appearance, and shelf life of the Sekoya berries, they also prove to be more robust against extreme weather conditions, whether it's drought or rain. Our Peruvian growers reported that despite challenges with El Niño, they suffered about 30% damage, whereas the damage to older varieties exceeded 50%.

Also, in South Africa's Cape region, the Sekoya Pop variety withstood the heavy rains much better last season," Hans shares. "This highlights the urgent need for the introduction of new varieties. As for the high chill cultivation areas, the need for variety replacement is even more pressing. More and more supermarkets are putting old varieties on their negative list for being too soft and prone to rotting or molding, and thus, are no longer welcome in supermarkets."

"We are working hard on category management to further categorize the applications of blueberries. Think of separate categories for breakfast, snacking, and the organic assortment. They have managed this much better with products like tomatoes, carrots, and potatoes. We have a lot of work to do to help consumers choose the right berry for the right eating moment!"

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Hans Liekens

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