SOME SELECTION CHARACTERS FOR BLUEBERRY CULTIVARS GROWN FOR PICK-YOUR-OWN PRODUCTION

In the past customers were mainly attracted to Pick-Your-Own [PYO] sales because it enabled them to purchase fruit at a comparatively low price, particularly for freezing and home processing.
This is still an important reason, but two other reasons are becoming more important.
Firstly, PYO has become a significant leisure activity, particularly in the day tourist areas surrounding large cities and provincial towns and is seen as a legitimate entertainment for the whole family.
Secondly, and perhaps of greater significance is the increasing belief in the health giving benefits of blueberries.
Together these factors have caused a major rise in PYO sales in many parts, due to both an increase in the number of people picking and in the quantities that they pick.
This paper argues that, although still small in comparison to the market outlets, the PYO segment is becoming more important and warrants consideration by plant breeders.
This is particularly so as an ideal PYO variety differs significantly from most of the current blueberry varieties grown.

VIII International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture

G.J.T. Frith

Vaccinium, blueberry cultivars, selection, pick-your-own, PYO

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2006.715.17