Jamie Petchell

GPG and Oregon Blueberry launch four new varieties at International Open Day

In July, Global Plant Genetics and Oregon Blueberry welcomed licensed nurseries, growers, consultants, marketers and industry specialists from across the world to an International Open Day in Oregon. The event provided guests with an exclusive opportunity to explore the Oregon Blueberry breeding programme and marked the international launch of four new varieties:

Together, the introductions demonstrate the breadth of the breeding programme, with options for high-chill and low-to-mid chill regions, traditional soil production, substrate systems and machine-harvested programmes. Each variety has been selected to address the increasingly demanding requirements of growers, retailers and consumers, including fruit size, firmness, flavour, yield, production efficiency and post-harvest performance.

OBG-Sirocco™

OBG-Sirocco™: built for the future of intensive production. OBG-Sirocco™, selection OBG-20010, is an exciting low-to-mid chill Southern Highbush variety developed with modern production systems firmly in mind.

Its compact plant habit makes it particularly well suited to substrate, controlled and high-density production, where efficient space use and streamlined plant management are becoming increasingly important. Despite its compact structure, OBG-Sirocco™ delivers impressive productivity, recording 8.4 kg per plant from four-year-old plants in 2025. The fruit is a major highlight. Berries averaged 21.8 mm in diameter and an exceptional 4.98 g in weight, making OBG-Sirocco™ the largest-fruited of the four new introductions. Its mid-blue berries carry an excellent bloom, creating the strong visual impact required for premium fresh-market programmes.

Firmness is another standout characteristic, with a four-week average of 339 g/mm and strong performance following cold storage. This exceptional firmness offers clear advantages for harvesting, packing, transportation and longer supply chains. Combining very large fruit, exceptional firmness, early productivity and a highly efficient plant habit, OBG-Sirocco™ represents an exciting step forward for intensive blueberry production in low-to-mid chill regions.

OBG-Belair™

OBG-Belair™: vigour, productivity and fresh-market performance. OBG-Belair™, selection OBG-20062, is a powerful new Southern Highbush variety combining strong plant vigour with excellent early productivity and high-quality fruit.

Designed for low-to-mid chill production regions, OBG-Belair™ has demonstrated exceptional yield potential, producing 9.0 kg per plant from four-year-old plants. Its vigorous growth habit supports rapid establishment and the development of highly productive commercial plantings. The berries are large and visually attractive, averaging 20.5 mm in diameter and 4.38 g in weight. A mid-blue colour and excellent bloom support premium presentation, while a balanced flavour profile of 11.4% Brix and 2.6% titratable acidity provides strong consumer appeal.

OBG-Belair™ also recorded an impressive four-week average firmness of 327.8 g/mm, with fruit maintaining strong post-harvest performance under cold storage. This creates exciting potential for growers and supply-chain partners requiring berries capable of handling transport while retaining their quality. With its combination of vigour, high early-age yield, large fruit and excellent firmness, OBG-Belair™ offers a highly commercial package for growers seeking productivity without compromising fresh-market quality.

OBG-Astoria

OBG-Astoria: a premium new contender for the Draper window. OBG-Astoria, selection OBG-18064, brings an exciting new option to high-chill, mid-season blueberry production. Fruiting within the established Draper harvest window, it combines the commercial reliability growers need with the fruit quality expected by today’s premium fresh market. The berries immediately stand out for their size and presentation, averaging 20.8 mm in diameter and 4.3 g in weight, with an attractive mid-blue colour and excellent bloom. This is supported by a balanced and highly appealing flavour profile, recording 13.0% Brix and 5.9% titratable acidity.

Commercial performance is equally encouraging. OBG-Astoria produced 9.9 kg per plant from six-year-old plants in 2025 and maintained strong firmness and post-harvest quality throughout four weeks of cold storage. With medium plant vigour and suitability for both soil and substrate systems, OBG-Astoria brings together size, flavour, firmness and dependable productivity. It is a compelling new candidate for growers looking to strengthen their mid-season fresh-market offering with fruit capable of delivering both premium presentation and repeat consumer appeal.

OBG- Raptor™

OBG-Raptor™: a new standard for Rabbiteye blueberries. OBG-Raptor™, selection OBG-16252, is one of the most exciting and potentially disruptive introductions within the new portfolio.

Developed to challenge traditional expectations of Rabbiteye blueberries, OBG-Raptor™ retains the vigour, resilience and production efficiency associated with the species while delivering a significantly improved fresh-market eating experience. Its large, uniform berries average 19.3 mm in diameter and have an exceptionally low seed count, without the gritty texture sometimes associated with traditional Rabbiteye fruit. With 14.6% Brix and flavour described as comparable to Highbush quality, OBG-Raptor™ has the potential to transform consumer perceptions of the category.

The variety also delivers outstanding productivity. Oregon trial data recorded 17.1 kg per plant from seven-year-old plants, while strong firmness and consistent four-week post-harvest performance support both fresh and processed market opportunities. Maturity is concentrated into just one or two pickings, creating opportunities to improve harvest efficiency and reduce labour requirements. The vigorous, grower-friendly plant also offers simpler canopy management, rain-split resilience and strong suitability for machine harvesting.

OBG-Raptor™ combines exceptional yield potential, resilience and production efficiency with the fruit quality demanded by modern markets. It is not simply another Rabbiteye variety; it represents a genuine opportunity to redefine what the category can deliver.

oblueberry.com