The April field trip to growers in Spain proved a timely reminder that there’s no substitute for getting out of the office and spending some time on the ground, with our blueberry varieties and the licensees who are growing and developing them. As always, it was great to see, feel and taste first-hand how exceptionally well our varieties compare in terms of appearance, flavour, size, firmness and yield.

Alongside the development progress being made with new selections, our more established varieties including Gladiator, Maverick and Tropical Blue continue to perform extremely well and are proving themselves as great commercial crops.

Shaun Collin

The time in Spain offered a valuable look at how the current blueberry selections are developing under field conditions. There’s a clear step forward in overall fruit quality, particularly in the balance of size, firmness and eating experience. What stood out most was the consistency, with strong performance repeated across different sites. Seeing the fruit on the plant adds an important layer of understanding alongside the trial data. Overall, it was a useful opportunity to confirm which varieties are continuing to deliver and where the strongest potential lies moving forward.

Bonnie Neugebauer

Our April visit to some of our Licensee’s blueberry farms in southern Spain provided a comprehensive overview of berry production in the area today, deepening our understanding of blueberry agronomy. The trip emphasised the importance of careful varietal selection for climate resilience, harvestability and market demands. On site exposure clarified environmental considerations, different pruning techniques, pollination strategies, and quality control processes linking operational practices to commercial outcomes. Key takeaways: cultivar choice and then plant handling is critical for yield and fruit taste/ quality and that close coordination between field operations and packing facilities ensures marketable produce.

Anna Spencer

From a marketing perspective, this visit was invaluable. Capturing outstanding plants at different stages of the season allowed us to truly showcase the berries at their best — from early development through to peak harvest quality. The consistency in berry size, firmness, and flavour across sites was striking, providing strong visual and storytelling content. Key takeaways include the impressive scale at which these plantations are operating, the high level of quality control being maintained, and, most importantly, the strength and reliability of the genetics. Together, these elements reinforce the powerful position of GPG varieties both regionally and on a global stage.

Eloise McDowell