Primoris Antilla strawberries

Spanish strawberry association FresHuelva has unveiled two new varieties, one of which, Primoris, will enter the market for the first time this year.

According to the group, around 27m plants bearing the Primoris variety will be in place in time for the start of the coming season.

Meanwhile another variety, Antilla, remains in the test phase and so far some 600,000 plants have been grown.

Antonio Refoyo, technical director of Huelva-based joint venture breeding company Fresas Nuevos Materiales, said Primoris had the potential to offer an early-fruiting variety with excellent organoleptic qualities.

'Production begins around 8-10 days earlier than most mid-season strawberries,' he commented, 'and its large, homogenous and cone-shaped fruits are easy to pick.'

Primoris also offers a bright red colour and aromatic flavour, Mr Refoyo observed.

Commenting on Antilla, meanwhile, he said: 'Antilla is a mid-season variety characterised by yield and quality and producing very few deformed fruits.'