The Promise of Mortiño (Andean blueberry): Reviving Culture, Ecosystems, and Economies in the High Andes

In the Andean highlands of Ecuador, a small, dark berry is making a big impact. Known as mortiño, this native Andean blueberry (Vaccinium floribundum) has been part of Indigenous culture for centuries, deeply intertwined with ancestral traditions and seasonal celebrations. Today, mortiño is part of an emerging movement to domesticate native species and develop sustainable cultivation practices that benefit mountain communities.

Francisco Tobar, a leader with Acción Andina conservation partner Aves y Conservación in Ecuador, has been working with local communities to explore the cultivation of mortiño under nursery conditions, a challenging, long-term endeavor that could pay off in profound ways.

“This is more than just a crop,” Francisco explains. “It’s a cultural symbol, a biodiversity ally, and a potential livelihood strategy for remote communities who often have few economic alternatives.”

A Fruit Rooted in Tradition

Mortiño is especially important on Día de los Difuntos (Day of the Dead), celebrated November 2. Its most iconic use is in colada morada, a thick, spiced berry drink.

“Colada morada was created during colonial times and is still used in Indigenous rituals,” Francisco says. “Mortiño, with its deep purple hue, became one of the key ingredients. It’s a drink that connects past and present.”

But despite its cultural prominence, mortiño has rarely been cultivated. Instead, families harvest wild stands from the páramos, high-altitude grasslands that are ecologically sensitive and under increasing pressure. 

A Delicate Path to Domestication

Francisco and his team are now working to change that by experimenting with cultivation methods. It’s a slow process. It could take five to eight years before the shrubs yield fruit at a scale that makes cultivation viable.

“It’s not easy to domesticate mortiño,” he says. “But we’ve made progress. We’re testing substrates, tracking growth, and working with community members to install more pilot plots.”

The goal? To create an agricultural model that respects the ecology of this native species while helping communities earn income without relying on wild harvesting.

Challenges with Water and Climate

Water is critical to mortiño cultivation, particularly for fruit development, and it has been in dangerously short supply. Last year, Ecuador faced debilitating droughts, leading to reduced water levels in dams and subsequent planned power outages that crippled the country’s economy. Aves y Conservación performed an analysis using weather stations in the areas where they work and reported only 20 days of rain in a span of about four months, which delayed reforestation campaigns that require wet ground in order to plant saplings. 

Franciso said such planting delays will require adaptation to a changing climate. “These climate shifts make planning difficult,” adding, “Flexibility and understanding are essential.”

Conflict and the Need for Protection

In addition to the challenges of cultivation and drought, demand for mortiño has soared—especially in urban markets—creating conflicts over access. In some communities, city dwellers now harvest berries from traditional collection sites, pushing out local families who rely on them for seasonal income.

“We’re seeing an avalanche of outsiders entering community lands,” Francisco explains. “There’s no regulation, and that creates inequity and ecological harm.”

He and others are calling for legal protections—such as harvest permits, quotas, and community access rights—to ensure sustainable and just use of the fruit.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Cultivated Mortiño

Despite limited funding and technical barriers, Francisco remains hopeful.

“The mortiño represents possibility,” he says. “If we do this right, it can reconnect people with their culture, protect biodiversity, and offer real economic alternatives in the high Andes.”

For now, the team continues, plant by plant, to build a model of biocultural restoration that honors the past while planting seeds for a resilient future.

Would you like to support the mortiño cultivation project and economic opportunities for local Andean communities?