New genetics, and careful production development will be key to developing India’s domestic blueberry industry and capturing its untapped consumer, writes Global Plant Genetics’ Jamie Petchell
During a recent trip to India, I had the opportunity to see first-hand how quickly the country’s interest in commercial blueberry production is evolving. Although India is still a very small player globally, it is becoming increasingly clear to us at Global Plant Genetics that its long-term potential is enormous. With close to 1.5bn people and a middle class estimated at around 500mn, India represents one of the most significant untapped markets for blueberries anywhere in the world.
My visit centred on time spent with FD Berries, our blueberry partners in the country. Their progress over a relatively short period has been impressive, and it reflects a wider, growing appetite among Indian growers to understand what it will take to build a successful domestic blueberry industry. During my time with the FD Berries team, I also got the opportunity to meet with a number of existing and prospective growers who are exploring blueberries for the first time. Their questions were practical, focused and showed a genuine desire to get things right from the start.
As part of the visit, I delivered a presentation outlining global consumption trends, production benchmarks and the strategic decisions India will need to make if it is to scale effectively. A key component of this discussion was the role of high-quality genetics. GPG represents the University of Georgia blueberry breeding programme in multiple countries, and we are now introducing these varieties into India through FD Berries. During the trip, we visited the nursery currently propagating Maverick plants, with plans already underway to begin producing Tropical Blue, Sweet Duchess and Gladiator as well. These varieties have been developed to perform in warm climates - exactly the type of conditions many Indian growing regions experience - and have proven themselves in other demanding environments.
Genetics form only one part of the opportunity. The market potential is perhaps even more striking. Global average blueberry consumption stands at around 260g per person per year, while mature markets are well above this. In the US, consumption averages roughly 1.3kg per person annually. Against that backdrop, India’s current consumption is virtually negligible, but the scale of its population means that even a modest rise in per-capita intake would translate into extraordinary national demand. With a rapidly expanding middle class and increasing interest in premium, health-focused foods, India has the capacity to become one of the world’s largest blueberry-consuming nations.
However, the industry’s development will require careful planning. Suitable growing regions must be identified, and production systems need to be selected with India’s climatic diversity in mind - whether substrate production, protected structures or highly managed field systems. A robust cold chain will be essential; without it, fruit quality cannot be preserved from farm to consumer. Market development, retailer engagement and sustained consumer education will also play major roles as supply increases.
India’s blueberry sector remains in its early stages, but the direction of travel is clear. From what I saw during this visit, the interest, investment and ambition are very real. With the right genetics, sound technical foundations and a focus on quality throughout the supply chain, India has the potential not only to produce blueberries successfully, but to become a major global force in the years ahead.
