Middle Eastern country joins the US and Japan with harvest of rare premium fruit
Saudia Arabia has become one of only three countries in the world to produce white strawberries, according to a report by local publication Saudi Gazette.
Production of the rare variety was previously limited to the US and Japan, but will now be harvested from the city of Hail thanks to the region’s favourable climate and advanced irrigation infrastructure.
The milestone reflects Saudi Arabia’s recent advancement in the agricultural sector and introduces a premium crop with strong market appeal.
One grower tole the Saudi Press Agency the project had been carried out under an exclusive agreement with the University of Florida to trial the variety in the region.
He said the production process involved laboratory techniques to pollinate red strawberry flowers with pineapple flowers, extending the ripening period from flowering to harvest by around 30 days.
According to the Gazette, the new production has boosted Hail’s profile as a tourism destination with interactive farm experiences alongside the premium produce.
