Company said the variety fills a defined need in the market for a high-performing early- to mid-season blueberry
Oregon Blueberry has officially announced the commercial release of OBG-Belair, a new proprietary blueberry variety developed for the early- to mid-season market window.
According to the breeder, the variety fills a defined need in the market: a vigorous, productive mid-chill variety that combines strong field performance with the fruit size, firmness, flavour and postharvest quality demanded throughout today’s blueberry supply chain.
“The variety stood out during the 2026 season, performing particularly well in slightly warmer climates,” the company said. “It requires approximately 400 or more chill hours and averages 82 days from bloom to ripe fruit. Its performance in warmer and mid-chill production regions gives growers a promising new option when both field performance and arrival quality are critical.”
The Oregon Blueberry breeding team said OBG-Belair has consistently impressed them with its large-to-jumbo fruit, averaging 20.5mm in diameter, along with its firmness, texture, and flavour. It has also proven to hold up well in storage with firmness averaging 327.8 g/mm over a four-week storage trial.
“In the field, OBG-Belair develops into a vigorous cultivar with a well-balanced plant structure and favourable leaf-to-fruit ratio. The variety has been noted for its heavy yields, large fruit, and ease of picking. In 2025 Oregon trials, four-year-old plants averaged 19.84 lbs per plant. These characteristics can help improve harvest efficiency and support premium market returns,” the company said.
Oregon Blueberry reported that it has observed strong first-year establishment and vigorous growth, giving growers the potential to establish productive plantings quickly.
OBG-Belair’s commercial release comes as the industry seeks greater consistency in early-season blueberry supply. As retailers work to extend the availability of premium-quality blueberries across the calendar, growers and marketers need varieties that can reliably deliver size, firmness, flavour, and storage performance within the early- to mid-season window.
OBG-Belair is currently being trialled across North America and is early-stage trials in Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. The variety is now available in select markets – with Oregon Blue’s partner, Global Plant Genetics, handling sales outside the US. Oregon Blue said growers interested in learning more about plant availability, licensing or regional trial opportunities can contact dougm@oblueberry.com or visit the company’s website.
