On May 29, Costa Group [3] officially announced the launch of BluGenix [4], describing it as a major milestone in the company’s blueberry breeding program.

The blueberry variety improvement program sits at the core of Costa’s business and draws on close to 40 years of plant breeding expertise. Under the BluGenix brand, the program is broadening its presence in global markets and continuing to develop top-tier blueberry varieties valued for both quality and flavor.

Based in Australia, BluGenix has built a variety portfolio suited to a wide range of growing conditions, from zero-chill to medium-chill climates across different latitudes. The current lineup includes five varieties: Bounty, an early- to mid-season variety with an average diameter of 20 millimeters, high firmness and low acidity; Breeze, an early-season high-yielding variety of medium size with a balanced sweet-tart profile; Cascade, a mid-season high-yielding variety with strong adaptability and a balanced flavor; Delight, an early-season high-yielding variety with large fruit and a strong aroma; and Eterna, an early-season high-yielding variety with extra-large fruit, suited for export. All five are rated for cold storage at 4 degrees Celsius with a shelf life of 27 days — except Eterna, which achieves up to 50 days.

The varieties are currently grown across key producing regions including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Morocco, the United States, Mexico, Peru, China and Australia — with Yunnan province [5] in southern China notable as the only region where all five can be cultivated.

Costa Group CEO Marc Werner said that the launch reflected the program’s long history and global reputation, adding that the company’s continued investment in BluGenix would drive further expansion of its variety offerings, backed by a world-class team of experts. Leon Van Biljon, regional director for Costa Berry International, said that the goal as the program expands globally is to deliver premium varieties suited to growers, retailers and consumers alike.

Image: Costa Group

This article was based on a Chinese article. Read the original article [6].