During Fruit Attraction 2026 [3], Fall Creek [4] took the opportunity to showcase its newly released blueberry varieties [5], Everlast [6] (FC11-164) and Sekoya Nova [7] (FC15-173). Joining the Fall Creek Collection and Sekoya [8] platforms, respectively, the two varieties represent the latest breakthroughs in varietal innovation within these premium blueberry programs. They also reinforce Fall Creek’s commitment to enabling blueberry production across a broad range of growing conditions through the development of field-proven varieties that deliver consistent performance.

In a recent consumer study conducted by Fall Creek across seven premium blueberry consumption markets, respondents consistently identified fruit condition at the time of consumption as a key factor influencing satisfaction. The findings revealed that soft, mushy fruit and premature spoilage are the most common sources of consumer disappointment, while flavor is considered a baseline expectation.

The medium-to-high-chill variety Everlast delivers exceptional firmness and a crisp eating experience. Its outstanding firmness also provides growers with greater flexibility, enabling more options for harvest timing and supply management. The variety is suitable for mechanical harvesting and fresh-market production. Even after 60–100 days of storage, the fruit still maintains its crisp texture and excellent eating quality.

The high-chill variety Sekoya Nova demonstrates outstanding performance in both fruit quality and production economics. The berries are large (XL size) and uniform, with firm, juicy flesh. While maintaining excellent flavor and firmness, the variety can achieve a storage life of 60 days or longer. It also delivers rapid yield improvement and offers exceptional yield potential compared with other mid-to-late-season varieties. In addition, its large fruit size and concentrated ripening window contribute to highly efficient harvesting.

To address the impact of global warming on growers and the increasing demand for blueberry production in warmer winter regions, Fall Creek also showcased low-chill varieties from both platforms, including Sekoya Pop (FCM14-052), while sharing the latest developments from its breeding programs and field trials. At the same time, Fall Creek presented its raspberry and blackberry portfolio, featuring varieties such as Amalia Rossa (BTRASFOUR) and Easy Rose (ALEL101).

Fall Creek is a global leader in blueberry breeding. Founded in Oregon in 1978, this family-owned company operates 10 wholly owned business units across North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Each year, the company supplies growers in more than 65 countries and regions with over 40 million plants spanning more than 100 unique varieties.

Images: Fall Creek

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article [9].