Tropical Blue Shows Outstanding Early-Season Performance in Spain and Morocco

The blueberry variety Tropical Blue is demonstrating exceptionally advanced phenology this season in both Spain and Morocco, making it one of the earliest commercially productive cultivars currently grown in these regions. Observations from multiple commercial sites confirm that Tropical Blue is entering harvest significantly earlier than standard early-season varieties, with growers reporting one of the earliest fruiting windows ever recorded under Mediterranean conditions.

This accelerated ripening offers clear strategic advantages for early-season supply programmes. Early fruit availability, during a period of limited global supply (especially during the Northern Hemisphere winter), allows producers to reach more favourable market prices while providing retailers with consistent volumes of high-quality fruit during a critical supply gap.

In addition to its phenological advantage, Tropical Blue continues to deliver the fruit-quality attributes confirmed in previous trials. The berries show high uniformity, large average size, excellent firmness, and stable flavour, supported by strong postharvest performance. These characteristics contribute to lower sorting losses and improved packout rates, making the variety suitable for both domestic markets and long-distance export.

Yield potential is also emerging as a key strength. Commercial plantings at 2.5 years of age are forecast to produce around 6 kg of Class 1 fruit per plant this season — an impressive result for a young plantation. Preliminary projections suggest that yields will continue to increase in years 3–5 as canopy structure and root systems fully develop.

With its combination of ultra-early fruiting, high and consistent fruit quality, and promising yield performance, Tropical Blue is establishing itself as a technically robust and economically attractive option for growers seeking to strengthen their early-season supply programmes in Mediterranean production zones.

Read more:

The Future of the Food Industry Awaits at Anuga Select Ibérica 16-18 February 2027

13 January 2026

Anuga Select Ibérica is a brand-new trade fair project set to debut at IFEMA MADRID as the first general food trade fair on the Iberian Peninsula. The event brings together three renowned exhibition brands – Anuga, Meat Attraction, and Bakery & Ice Cream Attraction – creating one comprehensive commercial platform for the entire food and beverage sector. »

Macfrut 2026 will shine a spotlight on berries: a larger, revamped Berry Area

3 January 2026

Building on the success of the previous edition, Macfrut will relaunch the Berry Area in 2026, with a larger exhibition space, an extensive programme of scientific events and an even more international scope. The Berry Area is a leading event for the entire berry and strawberry supply chain. The Italian market for this sector is worth more than 621 million euros and is still growing strongly, with a 15% increase »

Looking Ahead to ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA: 2-4 September 2026

18 December 2025

ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA 2026 will once again fill the AWE with the world's freshest produce, innovative technologies, and the industry’s most influential leaders. The upcoming edition is set to feature an even larger exhibition, a high-level conference program, and signature features like the ASIAFRUIT AWARDS and the Innovation Hub.Looking Ahead to ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA: 2-4 September 2026. »