Angus Soft Fruits are proud to announce the release of three new strawberry varieties, bred to produce delicious fruit throughout the winter season. Intended for production in the Mediterranean region, trials and tests over the past three years have proved they have something special to offer growers, retailers, and consumers.
AVA™ Alicia
The three varieties, AVA™ Alicia, AVA™ Catalina, and AVA™ Sofia were bred and selected by the Angus Soft Fruits Breeding Program team led by Dave Griffiths, Research Director.
“Tests over the past three seasons at the Angus Soft Fruit trial sites in Spain have confirmed that we have exciting new varieties for the future,” said Griffiths.
AVA™ Sofia
The significant point of difference for growers in the region with the varieties is the high level of resistance to disease, along with an ideal season and yield portfolio. Retailers throughout Europe and the UK have been very quick to embrace the tremendous appearance and overall fruit characteristics of the fruit. Along with their reliability of consistent production and extended natural shelf life. Consumer benchmarking has also demonstrated excellent responses to the flavor, texture, and overall qualities of these new, very special varieties.
David Buxcey, Angus Soft Fruits’ Sales Director, said, “The varieties have all been successfully sampled by our customers with excellent results, allowing us to continue to supply consumers with great-tasting strawberries during the UK winter season.”
AVA™ Catalina
The science behind the breeding of these varieties started several years ago when Angus Soft Fruits reviewed their Mediterranean production of strawberries. Varieties at that time were deemed to lack some of the characteristics enjoyed during the summer season of production. Efforts were made to combine genetics that would express the appearance and flavor of the traditional ‘summer season’ berries.
Also required in the makeup of the new varieties was the ability for them to produce fruit in the short days of winter, albeit during the warm climate enjoyed during the Mediterranean winter. The results have more than satisfied the requirements of Angus Soft Fruits farmers, retailers, and consumers alike, allowing for the scaling up of production of the varieties in the months and years ahead.
For more information:
Jill Witheyman
Angus Soft Fruits
Email: Jill.Witheyman@angussoftfruits.com
www.angussoftfruits.com