From Mexico to China: Planasa's Blue Maldiva genetics transform the global blueberry sector
As international markets increasingly demand premium fruit and high yields, varietal choice has become a strategic decision for blueberry growers. In this context, Planasa's Blue Maldiva variety continues to gain prominence worldwide.
From Mexico to China over Morocco and South Africa, growers working under contrasting agronomic conditions agree in pointing to the high yields, fruit quality, and production efficiency delivered by these genetics.
Blue Maldiva in Mexico: productive efficiency and profitability
In Ahualulco, Mexico, the experience with Blue Maldiva has also marked a turning point for local growers. After working with different varieties and facing plant-health problems and fruit quality that fell short of export-market requirements, the search for a more efficient alternative led to the introduction of Blue Maldiva.
According to José Urbina, the variety stands out for producing large fruit with excellent firmness, sweetness, and flavor—essential attributes for international trade. Between 60 percent and 80 percent of production falls into the jumbo category, ensuring that virtually the entire crop is exportable.
Another distinguishing feature is its plant architecture. Unlike varieties that develop very bulky bushes, Blue Maldiva shows more restrained growth, allowing the plant to concentrate its energy on fruit production: “A single Blue Maldiva cluster can be as productive as dozens of branches from previous varieties that produced smaller sizes,” Urbina points out.
This efficiency is further reinforced by its earliness: 150 days after pruning, the plants are already in full production. In addition, input requirements are lower for both nutrition and crop protection, thanks to its low susceptibility to pests and diseases.
In terms of water consumption, the differences are also significant: while Blue Maldiva requires around 83 gallons per 2.5 acres, other varieties can reach 158 gallons, making this variety a more sustainable and profitable option.
Harvesting is another strong point. The large, uniform fruit size makes field operations easier, allowing more pounds to be picked per working day and optimising labor efficiency.
Adaptation to local conditions has been “supported by continuous technical collaboration with Planasa’s engineers, who carry out regular visits to fine-tune nutrition programs, identify potential issues, and optimize crop management.”
For José Urbina, the conclusion is clear: “It is a very productive variety that will certainly not let us down in terms of yields.”
Outstanding performance at high-altitude sites in China
In China’s Yunnan province, Xiaobao Ge, head of Yunnan Baoming Agriculture, manages a 74-acre farm located at almost 6.2 thousand feet above sea level—an altitude that plays a decisive role in shaping the blueberry’s sensory profile.
“At this height, the fruit tastes better, more aromatic and sweeter, and it is also crisper. Compared with lower-altitude areas, its performance is far more outstanding,” he explains.
Before committing to Planasa’s genetics, the team conducted an exhaustive evaluation, comparing different varieties and analyzing their responses across a range of production conditions. Ultimately, several factors tipped the balance in favour of Blue Maldiva: Its high productivity, the high percentage of large-calibre fruit, and its good resistance to disease, facilitating crop management.
“But most importantly, overall economic returns are very positive,” he stresses.
During field trials, fruit size was one of the most striking aspects. Even in the early stages of ripening, berries reached 18+ and 20+ sizes, with more than 80 percent of the crop exceeding 22 mm. Measurements also recorded fruit of 25+ and even 27 mm, confirming the exceptionally high share of large berries.
“I really like Blue Maldiva overall, and I am very satisfied with its performance,” he concludes, also expressing his wish that Planasa growers in other countries continue to achieve good results.
Planasa: genetics geared towards performance and international markets
Planasa continues to strengthen its position as a global benchmark in developing new berry varieties through breeding programs that combine fruit quality, agronomic efficiency, and sustainability.
These testimonials from growers in China and Mexico—together with strong performance in other countries such as Spain, Morocco, Peru and Southern Africa—illustrate how varieties such as Blue Maldiva are helping to improve farm profitability and meet the demands of the most competitive markets, reinforcing the role of genetics as one of the key pillars for the future of the global blueberry sector.
*All images courtesy of Planasa.
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