Blueberry Exporters Set Post-Harvest Quality Benchmarks for Long-Distance Shipments

Blueberry suppliers are shifting emphasis toward post-harvest management, firmness retention, and shelf-life extension to preserve fruit quality across long-distance export routes. The topic was addressed at Fruit Attraction 2026, where representatives of North Bay Produce, Fall Creek, and Agualima discussed how genetics, orchard management, refrigeration, and logistics interact to maintain quality through the supply chain.

Post-harvest targets and breeding priorities

César Elías of North Bay Produce identified shelf life as a determining factor for export shipments. Enrique Harten of Agualima cited 45 to 50 days as a target for post-harvest shelf life, a window that would give retailers additional time to market the fruit. At Fall Creek, Ernesto Pino indicated that varietal evaluation includes maintaining firmness after 60 days. These figures represent different evaluation criteria rather than universal industry standards.

The IBO Global Blueberry Report 2026 identifies firmness, fruit size, flavor, texture, appearance, and shelf life as the priority parameters in blueberry breeding programs.

Cold chain and logistics as quality determinants

Ruy Barbosa of North Bay Produce emphasized that arrival condition also depends on field management, harvesting practices, cold-chain continuity, and transport logistics. According to the IBO report, market requirements for blueberry quality continue to increase, with shelf life, costs, and supply reliability influencing supplier competitiveness.

Source: FreshPlaza: Cooling.