On July 6 and 7, the XXIII International Blueberry Seminar will be held, organized by the renowned consulting firm Blueberries Consulting. The meeting is part of the agenda of the World Blueberry Tour, an event that annually visits the main countries and regions that produce and export blueberries in the world.

We spoke with Blueberries Consulting regarding the organization and development of the expected meeting.

Why a seminar in Trujillo?

• For a long time there has been a concern to hold an international meeting in Trujillo. Many producers had requested it for years and fortunately in the last meeting in Lima this was possible and we included Trujillo in the agenda of the Blueberry World Tour.

Will it be a permanent destination then?

• Everything indicates that it will be so, because Trujillo has a great importance in the Peruvian industry. It has maintained leadership since the origins of the crop in the country, not only in terms of surface or production volumes, but also in the experience and knowledge acquired to solve the problems of the crop faced with a different climate and challenging edaphic conditions for its production.

Trujillo is in the north center of the coastal border of Peru, where the best fruit and vegetable products grown and exported by the country are multiplied. There are thousands of coastal hectares producing in the sand, struggling against water scarcity and precarious transport connectivity, but with a tremendous push from Peruvian producers and professionals, who have beaten these adverse conditions to obtain a fruit of recognized quality. in the world.

leading zone

The area is a pioneer and leader in blueberry cultivation in Peru, because of the 16.566 hectares of blueberries planted in the country, 8.056 (almost 50%) correspond to orchards located in the department of La Libertad, of which Trujillo is the capital. and another 30% of the planted fields are located in the immediately neighboring towns, such as Lambayeque and Ancash.

It should also be noted that in the area there are orchards where blueberries are grown with the highest productivity per hectare.

What is the purpose of holding this meeting?

• First of all, recognize and value Peruvian producers and technicians for their great work that they have done adapting the crop to very challenging conditions, which has meant a great contribution to the global industry, because it has allowed blueberry production to be extended to regions of the world. that before it was not thought that it was possible to cultivate this species, and that based on the Peruvian experience they have decided to produce it professionally in climates and soils that were previously impossible.

Knowing directly the reality of cultivation in Trujillo will be a very enriching experience for all the industry players who attend the meeting.

They highlight that the figures of the Peruvian industry continue to increase and according to projections, Peru will have more than 20.000 hectares of blueberry crops by 2024, always concentrating most of it in the Trujillo area and neighboring regions.

An extensive program

The program for the two days of the meeting includes the development of the most relevant issues for producers and other actors, and will be presented by the most important specialists and researchers in the international industry.

Among other topics, the post-harvest process will be addressed, from the varietal factor to the proper use of technology. Likewise, the different angles of plant nutrition will be addressed, both in its analysis methodology, control and the best strategies to obtain quality fruit. Fertigation and biofertigation, both in soil and in pots, is another aspect of crop management that will be treated from various approaches, as well as the important issue of organic production, which will cover its regulatory framework in the main markets, the different aspects of management, and its production reality in Peru.

Finally, the complex world of diseases and pests that affect the crop, as well as new pre-harvest applications to obtain larger-sized and firmer fruit, will be other aspects included in the full program of the international meeting.

The event that will bring together the successful Peruvian blueberry industry and the most important international players, who have already committed their attendance and participation, will be held at the Costal del Sol Wyndham Trujillo Golf Hotel.