[Press Release] Fall Creek To Reveal New Sekoya Nova ‘FC15-173’ High-Chill Blueberry Variety

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Fall Creek Farm & Nursery Inc. will introduce the high-chill blueberry variety Sekoya Nova (FC15-173) at Fruit Logistica 2026, showcasing distinct fruit quality and production advantages designed for mid-to-late-season growing regions, completing the Sekoya portfolio for year-round premium blueberry supply.

“Growers are being asked to deliver greater consistency in packouts, firmness, shelf life and harvest efficiency, while navigating tighter labor conditions and higher quality expectations,” said Fall Creek Chief Commercial Officer Paul Nselel. “Sekoya Nova (FC15-173) directly addresses these priorities for mid-late season production, completing our year-round Sekoya offering. At Fruit Logistica, we’ll demonstrate how our breeding and applied research are translating into varieties that perform in the field and protect eating quality through the supply chain.”

Sekoya Nova has demonstrated a combination of fruit size distribution and postharvest performance that differentiates it from many high-chill blueberry varieties currently in commercial production, according to Fall Creek’s evaluation results. In trials, the variety has shown shelf life and storability exceeding 60 days while maintaining fruit quality, compared with the roughly 45-day storage window typical of many newer high-chill releases.

Fruit size distribution has also been a key point of differentiation. Approximately 80% of Sekoya Nova fruit has exceeded 18 millimeters in diameter, a significantly higher proportion than the 20–50% commonly observed in comparable high-chill varieties. The variety has also demonstrated concentrated ripening, supporting more efficient harvest planning in mid-to-late-season production regions.

“What’s stood out in our evaluations is how consistently Sekoya Nova (FC15-173) holds quality through extended storage,” said Sekoya Vice President and General Manager Mark David. “That kind of shelf life, combined with a high proportion of larger fruit, gives growers more flexibility in harvest timing and helps protect eating quality further down the supply chain.”

Fall Creek plans to feature Fall Creek Collection varieties representing multiple chill profiles, including KeplerBlue (FCM12-038), AzraBlue (FCM14-031), ArabellaBlue (FC14-062), LoretoBlue (FC11-118), LunaBlue (FC12-205) and FCM14-057, along with pipeline genetics and trial momentum tied to mechanical harvestability and regional adaptability.

Fall Creek is a world-leading blueberry genetics company, delivering over 40 million plants of 100+ unique varieties annually to leading growers across 59 countries. Founded in Oregon in 1978, this family-owned company operates 10 wholly owned facilities spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Image: Fall Creek