Californian strawberry growers are already taking a fancy to a new variety called Albion.
The berry was only released this year by California State University as researchers awaited the correct combination of flavour, higher yields and disease resistance.
Similar to Diamante, one of the most popular berries grown in the US, breeder Kirk Larson (pictured) told UK growers at the soft fruit conference last week that it was already showing great promise.
However, he later told freshinfo it would be two years before plants were commercially available and exports were allowed. Nevertheless, he revealed that non-commercial trials are already going on in Europe to test suitability.
Seasons which can last as long as nine months, spread across several interlocking growing regions, help Americans to have the highest fresh consumption of strawberries in the world at 4.57lb a head annually, as well as processed product.
California’s coastline production has seen its outdoor acreage rise from 26,300 acres to 31,400 in four years without the use of tunnels which are virtually unknown. However, US breeder Larson said that there is increasing interest because trials have shown that yields can be doubled. l
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