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Normal collection from 10th of December

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  • Discussion type
    Discussion guide
  • Group size
    4-8

The hunt for a desert-loving blueberry

Inspired by the success of their Chilean neighbors, Peruvian entrepreneurs began exploring a local blueberry market in the early 2000s. But finding the right variety took years of trial and error—Espinoza tried to set up a nursery but failed. He now works in sales for Planasa, a Spanish company that develops tastier and better growing berries.

In Peru, the challenge was to overturn the conventional wisdom that blueberries needed a minimum number of chill hours—temperatures below 45°F—to thrive. While the Andean highlands met these conditions, the rugged terrain posed significant hurdles for an industry heavily reliant on manual labor and an infrastructure of advanced irrigation systems and packing plants.

The hunt for a desert-loving blueberry

Inspired by the success of their Chilean neighbors, Peruvian entrepreneurs began exploring a local blueberry market in the early 2000s. But finding the right variety took years of trial and error—Espinoza tried to set up a nursery but failed. He now works in sales for Planasa, a Spanish company that develops tastier and better growing berries.

In Peru, the challenge was to overturn the conventional wisdom that blueberries needed a minimum number of chill hours—temperatures below 45°F—to thrive. While the Andean highlands met these conditions, the rugged terrain posed significant hurdles for an industry heavily reliant on manual labor and an infrastructure of advanced irrigation systems and packing plants.