Angus Soft Fruits has confirmed that it has started commercial production of two new AVA™ varieties at its production facilities in Spain.
The company said that two varieties – AVA™ Alicia (ASF733.01) and AVA™ Catalina (ASF324.01) – have been bred and selected by the Angus Soft Fruits Breeding Programme team specifically for production in the Mediterranean region. Four years of trials have shown they ‘produce delicious fruit throughout the winter season’. They were designed to combine genetics that would express the appearance and flavour of traditional summer season berries, while producing fruit in the short days of winter, albeit during the warm climate enjoyed in the Mediterranean winter.
Breeding Programme Director Lucy Wilkins commented, “Tests over the past four seasons at the Angus Soft Fruit trial sites in Spain have confirmed that we have exciting new varieties for the future. The significant point of difference for growers in the region with the varieties is the high tolerance to disease, along with an ideal season and yield portfolio. Consumer benchmarking has shown excellent responses to the exceptional appearance, flavour, and texture of these new, very special varieties, alongside extended shelf-life.”
John Gray, Managing Director of Angus Soft Fruits, added, “The feedback from our customers has been extremely positive, and we are looking forward to scaling up production over the next couple of years”.
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