Planasa launches two new early strawberries

Spanish company Planasa, the European leader in varietal selection of berries, has launched for this season two new extra early strawberry varieties: Safari and Sahara. These varieties, which are already being cultivated in macro-tunnels and open fields, are adapted to the Mediterranean and subtropical climates.

"The results obtained so far allow us to say that these varieties will fill important gaps in the market," said Alexandre Pierron, Planasa's manager.

The new Sahara strawberry variety's precocity exceeds that of the Sabrina variety, the earliest variety for cultivation in Mediterranean countries developed so far by Planasa. "This is an earlier strawberry variety designed with a quality to meet the most demanding markets such as the Gourmet market. Its intense flavour is reminiscent of the Candonga variety- our quality reference-, but with a higher Brix (above 8) in its texture, its shape and colour," said Alexandre.

"We'll be able to fill important gaps in the market with the Sahara's earliness. One of the parameters that led us to the create this variety was the demand of early varieties by farmers and distribution chains."

Sahara is ideal to be grown in southern Spain, Italy, North Africa and Turkey.

Safari, which was selected in an experimental farm in central Mexico, blooms even earlier than the Sahara variety and is intended for cultivation in areas with subtropical climates, although, according to Alexandre, trials in Spain and California are also working well.

"Its earliness is extreme because it can be harvested in November. What's really exclusive is that it can be grown in subtropical climate. We did it this way because, unlike our competitors in Florida, our farms are in southern Mexico.

"Its appearance resembles Florida varieties such as Fortuna, but it is much more compact, which facilitates collection. Its quality might not be as good as the Sahara's but, being a sub-acid type strawberry, it easily reaches 7º Brix. One of its greatest qualities, apart from its extreme earliness, is its high resistance to diseases."

Safari is suitable for cultivation in countries such as Mexico, Florida and Southern California.

Planasa is a pioneer in the development of varieties suitable for Mediterranean climates. "The only varieties that we used to plant were the American varieties, and their quality doesn't meet the European consumers' standards. That's why the goal of our programs has always been fruit quality."