New Zealand plants new blueberry variety, size comparable to ping-pong ball!

According to New Zealand media reports, New Zealand will be planting and selling the Eterna variety of blueberries, a variety whose fruit was once recognized as the largest blueberry in the world.

These blueberries are currently being grown in the Kerikeri and Waikato regions by the Fresh Berry Company, which has established a partnership with Driscoll's.

In April 2024, Costa announced that an Eterna blueberry from Australia set a new Guinness World Record, with a weight of 20.4g and a diameter of 39.31mm, making it the largest blueberry in the world. The Eterna variety comes from the Costa Variety Improvement Program (VIP), which is characterized by large fruit, a crisp and refreshing taste, and a long shelf life. The VIP program develops an average of 1-2 new blueberry varieties with global commercial value each year and licenses the cultivation of Costa-bred blueberry varieties in the Americas, Morocco, China, and Southeast Africa.

It is reported that the Eterna blueberry planting materials imported into New Zealand first undergo pest and disease testing, after which they are released to tissue culture and commercial nurseries to be grown into commercial plants for growers. A small number of Eterna blueberries are expected to appear on supermarket shelves later next year.

Image source: Fresh Berry Company 2025 International Fruit and Vegetable Report. All rights reserved. For reprints, please contact the International Fruit and Vegetable Report for permission and credit.