Breeder presented Pink Hudson and Pink Loira at the fourth edition of its Genetics Forum
More than 100 berry professionals from Huelva and Portugal gathered for Planasa’s recent Genetics Forum, an annual event organised by the breeder to exchange knowledge and share technical and genetic advances in berry varieties.
At the event, Elisa Pérez, Planasa’s head of the rubus breeding programme for the EMEA region, gave a review of the work carried out in raspberry production in recent years, highlighting the recent launch of the new Pink Hudson and Pink Loira varieties, specifically adapted to the growing conditions in the region.
Pink Loira is a raspberry variety focused on winter window production. According to Planasa, it “stands out for its productivity and ease of harvesting, which translates into very good yields for the grower. The fruit of this variety also has an attractive appearance and sweet flavour, which is why it has already begun to attract the attention of major European retailers, who are eager to make it available to the end consumer”.
Pedro Domínguez, head of the strawberry breeding programme, then offered a detailed analysis of the performance of the RedSayra and Red Samantha varieties during a season marked by adverse weather conditions. In addition to sharing relevant data, Domínguez provided practical management recommendations and gave a preview of the innovations Planasa is working on for the coming years.
The closing session was led by Julián Rioja, commercial director of the strawberry, raspberry and blackberry nursery for Iberia & Africa, who emphasized the strategic role of nurseries within the production process. Rioja highlighted the efforts made by Planasa to guarantee growers plants of the highest genetic and health quality.
