Greece is planning to introduce the Ventana strawberry, a red, sweet variety that can be harvested as early as January.

Growers have already had encouraging results with the first crops of this early strawberry, Takis Orfanus from the trading organisation Greek Fruit Center said at Fruit Logistica this week.

The growers are also looking to launch avocados and mandarins shortly, and by 2007 intend to supply 10,000 tonnes of avocados and 100,000 tonnes of mandarins.

In 2004 the Greek Fruit Center supplied 150,000 tonnes of vegetables and fruit to the Greek market and to buyers abroad as well. Meanwhile, Orfanus said Greece is now the second largest kiwi fruit producer in Europe, in terms of weight.

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