Abstract
Southern highbush blueberry cultivation has expanded into non-traditional growing areas worldwide due to elite cultivars and improved horticultural practices. This article presents a comprehensive review of current production systems—alternatives to traditional open field production—such as production in protected environments, high-density plantings, evergreen production, and container-based production. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each system and compare their differences to open field production. In addition, we provide potential solutions for some of the disadvantages. We also highlight some of the gaps existing between academic studies and production in industry, providing a guide for future academic research. All these alternative systems have shown the potential to produce high yields with high-quality berries. Alternative systems, compared to field production, require higher establishment investments and thus create an entry barrier for new producers. Nevertheless, with their advantages, alternative productions have the potential to be profitable.
Highlights
Blueberry (Vaccinium spp. section cyanococcus) consumption has dramatically increased globally over the last 5 years [1]
In contrast to high tunnel production, environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, light, and CO2 concentrations can be controlled in greenhouses and plant factories, making it possible to produce fruit year-round, especially in plant factories [29]
EarlyThis in the season prerequisite forisproducing high for yields of high-quality berries early in the season production. This production system is only feasible in areas with light or no winter freezes, or under high system is only feasible in areas with light or no winter freezes, or under high tunnels [55,56,57]
Summary
Blueberry (Vaccinium spp. section cyanococcus) consumption has dramatically increased globally over the last 5 years [1]. This rising demand has been accompanied by increased production in both traditional and new growing areas around the world. Southern highbush blueberry (SHB, Vaccinium corymbosum L. interspecific hybrids) has been instrumental to this expansion due to its high fruit quality for fresh markets and adaptation to subtropical and tropical production areas. Alternative production systems combine protected agriculture practices (climate control, precise irrigation, and fertilization) and specialized canopy management to increase input use efficiency and shorten plant juvenility. This increases total productivity and can reduce the period of negative cash flow [3,4]. Independently according to theexist, economic and publications environmental factors in each region.
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