Table grape, cherry and raisin breeder Bloom Fresh says it has acquired a fruit breeding program from Inka’s Berries, which will further expand its global footprint in the development of fruit varieties.
Inka’s Berries, founded in Peru, is a blueberry breeding program that created premium varieties such as Abril Blue+ and Alessia Blue+. Bloom Fresh also said Inka’s Berries features an extensive pipeline of new blueberry selections in development. Inka’s Berries offers no-chill requirements, which is adaptable to diverse growing conditions.
“As the original no-chill blueberry breeding program in Peru, Inka’s Berries varieties are uniquely positioned to transform the presence of blueberries in Peru and around the world,” Carlos Gereda Cornejo, founder and chairman of Inka’s Berries, said in a news release. “We feel that now is the perfect time to partner with a forward-thinking company like Bloom Fresh to expand the footprint and accelerate the impact of our blueberry program worldwide.”
Inka’s Berries varieties have already begun to expand to in South America, Europe and Africa, with potential for further growth of the blueberry market, the release said.
Bloom Fresh said the acquisition will allow it to leverage its global scale in table grape and cherry breeding to expand on its market growth and unlock the potential of these varieties worldwide.
“Inka’s Berries breeding program is unique in its ability to cultivate blueberries in new regions and geographies, and we are thrilled to bring their expertise and groundbreaking varieties into the Bloom Fresh family,” Josep Estiarte, CEO of Bloom Fresh, said in the release. “Together, we will continue our mission to drive sustainability and innovation in fruit breeding, offering growers and consumers around the world the highest quality fruit varieties.”
The company said the move also aligns with its sustainability goals, providing solutions to some of the major challenges facing the fruit industry including climate change and food waste.
