A new blueberry variety, provisionally named "Highland Charm," has been launched following a 10-year breeding effort coordinated by the James Hutton Institute in collaboration with partners in the Netherlands (Schijnwerkers Plants BV), Ukraine (Dolyna-Agro), Australia (Perfection Fresh), and Chile (Grupo Hijuelas).
Highland Charm is the first Northern Highbush cultivar to emerge from the Scottish-based programme. According to the developers, the variety was bred to combine consumer-focused traits such as berry size, flavour balance, and appearance with agronomic performance suited to modern highbush production systems.
© James Hutton Institute
Trials in the EU and Ukraine have shown adaptability, while further testing continues. Oleg Bazyuk of Dolyna-Agro described the fruit as producing large berries in loose clusters with high sweetness and colour. Leon Schijnwerkers of Schijnwerkers Plants BV noted that the programme aimed to combine traits including bloom, fruit quality, texture, taste, and storability.
Jamie Smith from James Hutton Institute Scientific Services stated that the new cultivar reflects an attempt to merge agronomic reliability with consumer taste preferences. Dr Susan McCallum, blueberry breeder, highlighted its performance in terms of yields, fruit size, and balanced sugar-acid profile.
© James Hutton Institute
The variety was introduced in late summer 2025, at a time when growers face pressures from changing climate conditions and evolving market demands. It has been under evaluation in the UK, EU, and the Netherlands, with partners reporting interest from different production regions.
Limited trial volumes of up to 100 plants are available through partner organisations for growers and stakeholders wishing to test the cultivar.
For more information:
The EU - Schrijnwerkers Plants BV: [email protected]
The Ukraine (Dolyna-Agro): [email protected],
Australia (Perfection Fresh) – Pending Importation: [email protected]
Chile (Grupo Hijuelas) – Pending Importation: [email protected]
