Fall Creek hosts first Global High Chill Field + Forum at Oregon Home Base, showcasing new blueberry genetics

Fall Creek Farm and Nursery, Inc. will host its 2026 Global High Chill Field + Forum on July 29 at the company's research farm in Oregon, marking the first time the annual event has gone global. The expanded format brings together growers, Sekoya program licensees and their growers, and select retailers from North America, Chile, and Northern Europe's high-chill growing regions, timed to peak ripening season at the site where the company generates its trial data.

The event will feature FC11-164, the company's first machine-harvestable blueberry variety for the fresh market, alongside Sekoya Nova FC15-173. Growers have seen both varieties in the field at past events, but this year marks their first time being featured as official varieties, including the live reveal of FC11-164's official name.

With space limited and just three weeks remaining before the event, the firm is encouraging growers, licensees, and retail partners to register now to secure a place in the program.

Fall Creek Collection FC11-164, a breakthrough in machine harvest

The company will give growers a look at FC11-164, the company's first machine-harvestable variety for the fresh market, developed to help growers manage rising labor costs in high-chill regions. The variety will launch under the Fall Creek Collection program, with its official name announced live at the Field + Forum.

FC11-164 produces large fruit with a light blue color and firmness beyond any other variety the firm has evaluated, firm enough to be machine-harvested for the fresh market while holding excellent quality after 60 days or more in storage. The variety ripens mid- to late-season and carries a mildly sweet flavor.

“FC11-164 gives high chill growers something they haven't had. It's a fresh market variety that doesn't force a trade-off between labor efficiency and fruit quality; the firmness holds up through harvest and long after, in storage. We've been working toward this for years, and we're glad to finally bring it to growers,” said Paul Sandefur, vice president of research and development, Fall Creek.

Sekoya Nova FC15-173, from the research farm to the tasting table

Growers will get a closer look at Sekoya Nova FC15-173 in the field at the Oregon research farm, including a blind tasting session as part of the day's Breeding & Applied Research Tours & Tasting at the Henry Research Farm.

Fruit size has stood out: approximately 80 percent of Sekoya Nova fruit exceeds 18 millimeters in diameter, compared with 20 to 50 percent for comparable varieties. The mid- to late-season variety has also shown storability exceeding 60 days, well beyond the roughly 45-day window typical of many newer high-chill releases, while maintaining fruit quality. The variety also ripens in a concentrated window, supporting more efficient harvest planning.

"Growers are under real pressure to deliver consistent quality, efficient harvests, and fruit that performs all the way to the consumer," said the company's Chief Commercial Officer, Paul Nselel. "This event provides an opportunity for growers, marketers, and industry partners to come together in Oregon to see these genetics under real production conditions and to explore the market dynamics influencing variety decisions across the supply chain."

A program built for a global audience

This year's expanded global format reflects the growing reach of Fall Creek's two genetics platforms, the Fall Creek Collection and the Sekoya licensing programs, and aligns with the event theme: “One Company. Two Programs. Endless Possibilities.”

Fall Creek CEO Marc de Beer will open the program with a keynote on Fall Creek's long-term investments in innovation, research, and grower-focused solutions supporting the future of the blueberry industry. Sandefur will share insights on emerging areas of research and innovation influencing the future of blueberry production.

The afternoon program shifts to the commercial side, with sessions exploring consumer and retail insights shaping variety decisions across the supply chain. A moderated panel featuring growers and marketers from the Fall Creek Collection and Sekoya programs will discuss evolving consumer and retailer expectations, followed by a session on new pathways for accessing Fall Creek genetics and a review of the blind tasting results.

*All images courtesy of Fall Creek. 

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