Major horticultural group Turners & Growers will plant 30ha to blueberries in New Zealand over the next three years, with production expected to reach 307 tonnes by 2021.
As well as increasing production, the New Zealand-based company intends to grow the market for blueberries, both at home and abroad, by extending the selling season with four new varieties from a Plant and Food Research breeding programme.
Turners & Growers companies Kerrifresh and Delica will work in partnership to grow and export the new varieties O’Neal, Centra Blue, Island Blue and Nui.
“There’s increasing demand in the Asian markets for blueberries and New Zealand fruit is recognised as some of the best in world,” said Kerrifresh general manager Alan Kerr.
The company will invest NZ$1.3m in converting lemon orchards to blueberry production, and will also develop a dedicated post harvest facility for packing the fruit.
Turners & Growers managing director Jeff Wesley said blueberries are a premium product recognised for their taste, colour and nutritional value.
“Blueberries are high in vitamin C and antioxidants and their health benefits make them sought after by global consumers,” he said.
The company’s foray into blueberry production is part of an on-going investment in large-scale horticultural developments, said Mr Wesley.
“For New Zealand’s horticultural exports to increase in volume and return we must constantly innovate through high-value new varieties that will deliver outstanding taste, flavour and texture to increasingly discerning customers,” he said. “ENZA is one of the world’s best-known produce brands and we want to leverage that strength and reputation through our ENZABlue Blueberry marketing.
Currently around 600 tonnes of blueberries are produced in New Zealand for export each year.
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