Total Berry walks reveal wide variety of British fruit

Early ripening ever bearers are increasing in popularity and challenging traditional June cropping varieties, according to David Johnson, European representative of Plant Sciences Incorporated responsible for the breeding programme which supports Total Berry's growers.

"Elsanta and Sonata have been showing poor results, particularly due to weather conditions this season, and our growers are looking for alternatives," said Johnson.

The news came at the traditional June farm walk held at Gaskain's farm at Selling, Kent, attended by some of the best known growers in the industry which supply fruit to Total Berry for its major supermarket customers.

It is the first of three Total Berry growers walks this season, to see the wide selection of varieties from the UK and international breeding programmes, some of which will ultimately influence future strawberry and raspberry sales programmes.

Leading the strawberry shift, Red Glory which is doing very well for growers this season. Dr Lindrea Latham, research agronomist for Redeva, which is Total Berry's research and development division, is particularly impressed with its outstanding shelf life. "It is already producing excellent tasting fruit and well liked by leading supermarkets," she told the audience.

Additionally, a relative newcomer, Premier, has also been cropping heavily through May and June, compared with its long established competitors and producing as high as 98 percent Class I fruit.

The 25 growers also had a preview of three new strawberry varieties still identified by code names, but where there were already very encouraging signs.

Dr Latham added the challenge in the past has been optimising flavour, but this year several in the trials were very promising, particular selection TB1 (Total Berry 1).

"It appears to be a perfect early ever-bearing variety, which has already presented well to supermarkets and is on semi commercial growing sites this year."

There was also an opportunity to hear of the progress being made in the development of larger, sweeter double cropping primocane raspberries.

"Grandeur could lead to a potential step change in shelf life, as it appears to have two to three days more than Tulameen. Together with Radiance commercial planting is already increasing." she confirmed.