The global supply of blueberries is changing rapidly and with it the quality standards demanded by our customers. Learn here in detail the scope of the 5 pillars on which the Blueberry Committee’s Quality System is based, focused on maintaining the consistency of the quality of our blueberries.
The different varieties have been classified into three groups, according to their quality and post-harvest performance, based on the experience of the professionals of the different associated companies, the research carried out by academia and research institutes and the blueberry committee, through technical trials and the quality verification program carried out by the Committee.
Lack of firmness is one of the condition parameters in blueberries that most affects their commercialization, so pre-harvest management should focus on pruning and balanced nutrition, adequate irrigation for each of the varieties, with the objective of building a good raw material.
On the other hand, botrytis problems begin when proper management is not carried out from blossom onwards, so a good integrated control of this disease should be carried out.
Finally, the control of quarantine pests (pseusococcus, codling moth, Lobesia botrana) as well as those that cause productive damage (Drosophila suzukii), is essential so that the fruit is not rejected. It is necessary to carry out an intra- and extra-predial analysis, then monitoring is essential to know when and how to carry out an effective integrated pest control.
Good harvest management must be carried out, starting with training of all personnel involved in harvesting, and having trained supervisors.
Start harvesting with between 10 and 15% of fruit ready, i.e. with over 90% color coverage. Harvesting frequency is fundamental, it cannot be more than 7 days, considering that group 2 varieties need more frequency.
The supervisor must check that no suitable fruit is left unharvested, since this fruit will be overripe in the next pass.
It is important to start harvesting as early as possible and not to harvest at temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F). Do not harvest when the fruit is wet.
Intra-period shading and cool field storage should be used so that the harvested fruit is shaded and does not dehydrate after harvest. It is suggested that the fruit from the field to the field store should not be stored for more than 30 minutes.
Then, it is essential that the fruit is brought to cold storage as quickly as possible, not exceeding 4 hours from the pre-farm collection center to the center where it will be processed.
Wet chambers should be used to determine the botrytis pressure in the fruit.
Gasification with sulfur dioxide is suggested, which has proven to be a successful technique. The temperature of the fruit should also be lowered with forced air and processed in the shortest possible time.
The cold chain must be traceable and continuously monitored, since any temperature failure or breakage will be detrimental to the condition of the fruit, with effects on dehydration, loss of firmness and disease development. This includes temperature control of the fruit being shipped.
The fruit should be stored in holding chambers, the pulp temperature should be between +0.5 to -0.5 °C and it should be shipped in the shortest possible time.
Quality control must be performed at critical points from the time the fruit enters the plant until it is shipped (receipt of bulk or packed fruit, before entering the packing line, on the line, checking the commercial, checking the soft, finished product and pre-shipment).
The objective of this standard is to establish the minimum quality requirements for finished fruit of all fresh blueberries for export that are packed by exporting companies that are members of the Chilean Blueberry Committee.
Those responsible for compliance with the requirements of this standard will be defined by the exporting companies that make up the Chilean Blueberry Committee.
We present the evaluation sheets for analyzing new blueberry varieties. These tools allow recording key characteristics such as productivity, fruit quality and disease resistance, facilitating optimal selection to maximize yield and market competitiveness.
The Blueberry Committee develops seminars, workshops and materials aimed at transferring the best available technologies for growing, packing and storing blueberries for export. Some of the presentations and materials are available only to members of the Blueberry Committee, but most are available for public use.
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Documents for Partners |
Public Documents** |
| Technical Seminar
May 2024 |
Disease Journey
June 2024 |
| Technical Seminar
September 2023 |
Nutrition Workshop
March 2024 |
*More information on the internal Members site
**Find more information in the “Conferences and Seminars” folder.
Reducing food safety risks is not only an obligation to prevent the spread of disease, it is a factor that can jeopardize the continuity of our industry.
We have selected the best available Studies and Papers on the blueberry industry for your review.
Download here Technical Material produced by the Committee that may be useful to you.
Public Documents
Documents for Members
| Blueberry Defects Poster | Complete Postharvest Manual | Pilot “Varietal challenges for the blueberry industry”. | “Effect of the use of lecterns on blueberry quality”. |
Exclusive viewing of the Committee’s Videos for the Community.
ChileBlue Trade Long FinalCut 2019
ChileBlue Time Short FinalCut 2019
ChileBlue Taste Short FinalCut 2019
ChileBlue Place Short FinalCut 2019
Weed Management and Control in Blueberries – Verónica Diaz
Pruning Pilar Bañados
Lobesia Botrana
Intrapredial transport care
Harvest Management
Preparation of a good collection center
Blueberry Crop Management
How to prepare a good harvest
Packing Management
Replanting Talk
The Chilean Blueberry Committee, an organization linked to the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX), is made up of the country’s main blueberry exporters and represents close to 80% of Chile’s fresh blueberry exports.
Ourmission is to defend, develop and improve the Chilean blueberry industry, contributing to increase its levels of efficiency and competitiveness. In addition, we seek to develop the consumption of Chilean blueberries in international markets.
Our Board of Directors, which is renewed every two years, is composed of representatives of the following member companies:
Nutritional Benefits
