Retailers from North America, Chile, and Northern Europe, Fall Creek Collection growers and Sekoya programme licensees to attend Fall Creek’s first global high-chill field and forum in Oregon
Fall Creek Farm and Nursery has announced it will reveal the official name of its first high chill machine-harvestable blueberry variety for the fresh market at its 2026 Global High Chill Field and Forum on 29 July.
Held at the company’s research farm in the US state of Oregon, the event is timed to peak ripening season at the site where Fall Creek generates its trial data.
It will be the first time the event has gone global and will attract Sekoya programme licensees and their growers, and select retailers from North America, Chile, and Northern Europe’s high chill growing regions.
The event will feature ‘FC11-164’, Fall Creek’s first machine-harvestable blueberry variety for the fresh market, alongside Sekoya Nova ‘FC15-173.’ Growers have seen both varieties in the field at past events, but this year marks their first time being featured as official varieties, including the live reveal of FC11-164’s official name.
FC11-164 produces large fruit with a light blue color and firmness beyond any other variety Fall Creek has evaluated, the company said. It is firm enough to be machine-harvested for the fresh market while holding excellent quality after 60 days or more in storage. The variety ripens mid- to late-season and carries a mildly sweet flavor.
“FC11-164 gives high chill growers something they haven’t had. It’s a fresh market variety that doesn’t force a trade-off between labor efficiency and fruit quality, the firmness holds up through harvest and long after, in storage. We’ve been working toward this for years, and we’re glad to finally bring it to growers,” said Paul Sandefur, vice president of research and development, Fall Creek.
Growers will get a closer look at Sekoya Nova ‘FC15-173’ in the field at the Oregon research farm, including a blind tasting session as part of the day’s breeding and applied research tours and tasting at the Henry Research Farm.
Fall Creek said approximately 80 percent of Sekoya Nova fruit exceeds 18 millimeters in diameter, compared with 20 to 50 per cent for comparable varieties. The mid- to late-season variety has also shown storability exceeding 60 days, well beyond the roughly 45-day window typical of many newer high-chill releases, while maintaining fruit quality. The company added the variety also ripens in a concentrated window, supporting more efficient harvest planning.
“Growers are under real pressure to deliver consistent quality, efficient harvests, and fruit that performs all the way to the consumer,” said Fall Creek chief commercial officer Paul Nselel.
“This event provides an opportunity for growers, marketers, and industry partners to come together in Oregon to see these genetics under real production conditions and to explore the market dynamics influencing variety decisions across the supply chain.”
This year’s expanded global format reflects the growing reach of Fall Creek’s two genetics platforms, the Fall Creek Collection and the Sekoya licensing programs, and aligns with the event theme: “One Company. Two Programs. Endless Possibilities”.
Fall Creek CEO Marc de Beer will open the programme with a keynote on Fall Creek’s long-term investments in innovation, research, and grower-focused solutions supporting the future of the blueberry industry. Sandefur will share insights on emerging areas of research and innovation influencing the future of blueberry production.
The afternoon programme shifts to the commercial side, with sessions exploring consumer and retail insights shaping variety decisions across the supply chain. A moderated panel featuring growers and marketers from the Fall Creek Collection and Sekoya programs will discuss evolving consumer and retailer expectations, followed by a session on new pathways for accessing Fall Creek genetics and a review of the blind tasting results.
