The new experimental farm, which has required an investment of 2.5 million Euro, has an extension of 3.5 hectares, 60% of which will be used for strawberries and 40% for raspberries, and is equipped with 200 square metres of heated greenhouses and tunnels. There is also a 50 square metre laboratory, offices, a canteen, a 600 square metre warehouse and refrigeration chambers.
Fresas Nuevos Materiales was founded in 1999 with the goal of developing varietal programs in Huelva through its shareholders, which are breeding, producing and marketing companies in the sector. The project was devised as an alternative to the foreign varietal improvement programs. Since its creation, it has not stopped growing and its market share in Huelva has already reached 34%, with 200 million plants sold each campaign.
The Rociera became the second most planted strawberry in Huelva
"The Primoris, Rábida and Rociera strawberries already account for 34% of the market share in Huelva. Particularly noteworthy this year is the great growth of the Rociera, whose planting has doubled, going from 50 million plants to 100 million from one year to the next. It has mainly replaced Primoris crops and already accounts for 19.4% of the strawberry market. It has therefore become the second most planted variety in Huelva in just two marketing years," explains Fernando Zaforas, Marketing Manager at FNM.
Rociera strawberry.
"While all our strawberries are characterised by their precocity and long shelf life, the Rociera stands out for its flavour. It is a very sweet variety, with an average that exceeds 10 degrees Brix during the entire campaign. Furthermore, it ensures great homogeneity in terms of size, colour and shape, and it is highly resistant to soil diseases," he says.
Rábida strawberry
The biggest competition for FNM are the North American varietal improvement programs, mainly those carried out by the University of Florida, which has developed varieties like the Fortuna, which has been the leading variety in Huelva for many consecutive campaigns. Together, FNM and the University of Florida control more than 70% of the market. According to Fernando Zaforas, "although our future is undoubtedly promising, the competition with foreign and national institutions is getting tougher, so we will have to work hard to maintain our share and continue growing. One thing that helps us stand out from our competitors is that the three varieties of our program have a notable presence in the market, and the market, after all, will have the final say."
Primoris strawberry.
First FNM raspberry variety, pending registration
"FNM aims to meet the sector's needs with a full strawberry varietal program, which is yielding very good results, but we cannot lose sight of the importance of diversifying with other berries. This has led us to work also with raspberries," explains the marketing manager. "We are still in the process of registering our first variety, which is achieving very good results."
Although FNM believes that it is still early to provide more details about this variety, what does seem certain is that it will be "a raspberry with very good production in winter, good taste and a considerable size, and which will also stand out for being easy to harvest."
For more information:
Fernando Zaforas
Fresas Nuevos Materiales
T: +34 959809891
comercial@fresasnm.com
www.fresasnm.com