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Farming Blueberries in Chile

As the longest country in the world, Chile is marked by varied climatic regions that support an extended growing and harvest season. The country became an established leader in South American produce export more than 30 years ago and is now one of the world’s largest exporters of apples, table grapes, cherries, kiwifruit, avocados, pears — and blueberries.

Fall Creek is proud to have played a role in launching Chile’s blueberry industry, participating in one of the first plantings in 1982 and teaming with recognized industry pioneers with names such as Zegers, Romero, Moller, and DeBlasis. As a family-owned business, involving two active generations, Fall Creek continually looks to the future, providing high-quality plants that meet the needs of an evolving Chilean blueberry industry.

LEFT PHOTO: Fall Creek Chile’s Tomas Gonzalez, Sales & Grower Support Representative, and Carolina Uquillas, Commercial Manager, visiting Fall Creek's new nursery site under construction in Ñuble, Chile. (June, 2022)

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Varieties For Growers in Chile

Blueberries from Chile are available for export nearly half of the year, from approximately October to April. Fall Creek serves Chilean growers by focusing on delivering new genetics with improved characteristics and no restrictions on distribution and sale of the fruit.

Fall Creek’s portfolio includes varieties that span chill levels and are well-suited to the country’s varied growing environments. Current offerings from the Fall Creek® Collection include the no-chill varieties AtlasBlue® ‘FCM12-045’, BiancaBlue® ‘FCM12-087’, and JupiterBlue® ‘FCM12-131’; and the mid-to-high chill variety PeachyBlue ‘ZF08-029’.

Available from the Collection in early to mid-2021 are OlympusBlue™ ‘TH-1008’ (low chill) and LunaBlue™ ‘FC12-205’ (high chill). Two other high-chill varieties — LoretoBlue™ ‘FC11-118’ and ArabellaBlue™ ‘FC14-062’ — will be available by the end of 2021.

Current open catalog offerings include the low-chill varieties Suziblue, Ventura, and Victoria; the mid-chill varieties Blue Ribbon and Overtime; and the high-chill varieties Cargo, Last Call, Top Shelf, and Valor™ ‘ZF08-070’.

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Technical and Horticultural Support In Chile

With operations in 8 countries, Fall Creek offers growers variety-specific technical guidance informed by its global network. Through our grower support and Applied Research teams, service teams, and allied experts in other regions, we make direct connections with growers around the world.

Growers can rely on us for up-to-date research based on rigorous trialing in real-world situations, as well as the option of on-the-ground visits to established commercial operations for viewing varieties grown in similar conditions to their own. Fall Creek also offers technical and horticultural guidance from our Chile-based support team.

In all these ways, we support the success of our customers by focusing on reducing their risk and shortening learning curves, especially with the introduction of new varieties.

Carolina Uquillas, Commercial Manager, Chile
Email

Tomas Gonzalez, Sales & Grower Support Representative, Chile
Email

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“A World With Better Blueberries™”

"If we consistently improve the blueberry eating experience, everyone benefits--from the growers all the way to the families consuming the fruit." --Amelie Brazelton Aust

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