The current red fruit season, which has already started in some towns, will include a new local strawberry variety from Huelva, Spain. The name is "Niebla" (Fog), of which there will be a million plants, is to be sold for the first time, being the third variety created by Fresas Nuevos Materiales (FNM), after "Primoris" and "Antilla."
Antonio Refoyo, technical director at FNM, explained that this new variety is "a perfect all-rounder; quite satisfactory in every aspect and with a very good production throughout the season." It follows up on the progress made by the first two varieties 100% from Huelva: "Primoris and "Antilla."
Regarding the new "Niebla" variety, he said that it has a "quick growth cycle, very good quality and resists heavy transport conditions," also mentioning that it presents "very good organoleptic qualities for an early variety and is quick to produce, about eight to ten days earlier than most average growth cycle strawberries." Furthermore, it is a strawberry that is "very easy to harvest because its stem is very large and it is harmoniously cone-shaped and smooth."
Another feature of this new strawberry is its colour. It is, according to Refoyo, "light red and has a very good flavour for an early variety."
"Primoris" and "Antilla" accounted last season for more than 8% of the acreage devoted to strawberries. Refoyo says that they are still experimenting "with another two varieties, but it will take three seasons for them to be commercially available." On the one hand, the A8-16-2 variety (still without a commercial name), "very interesting for its strength, early growth and very good quality."
On the other hand, we are also working on the A9-84N-2, which "produces plenty of flowers throughout the year and a reasonable harvest," says Refoyo. FNM workers reinvest the royalty payments on further research to continue advancing in this area.
FNM is an entity founded in the year 1999 by Fresa Investigación y Desarrollo (FID), and formed by firms partnered with Freshhuelva, with the goal of obtaining varieties native to Huelva, thereby reducing dependence on foreign imports.
Source: Europapress
FNM is an entity founded in the year 1999 by Fresa Investigación y Desarrollo (FID), and formed by firms partnered with Freshhuelva, with the goal of obtaining varieties native to Huelva, thereby reducing dependence on foreign imports.
Source: Europapress