The global berry industry is currently facing several challenges: climatic issues, the availability of efficient labour and increased production costs, being examples. However, in times of challenges, there is always an abundance of opportunities. As ever, improved varieties are one key element in the future of the sector. The Global Plant Genetics’ (GPG) berry variety portfolio is well placed to be at the forefront over the next five years as growers and produce businesses rise to these challenges and capitalise on new opportunities.

In this article, we will take a brief look at each of the berry categories within the GPG portfolio and identify how improved genetics can benefit the global berry industry in the near future.

Strawberries

GPG is proud to represent the world-renowned strawberry programme at UC Davis. Within its varietal offer are the short-day types UCD Victor and UCD Warrior, the day-neutrals UCD Moxie, UCD Royal Royce and UCD Valiant, as well as the extreme day-neutrals UCD Finn and UCD Mojo.

Production of each of these is expanding, with varieties performing well in different locations. The breeding programme is well-known for its high-yielding varieties, evident again in these varieties. Coupled with this are excellent fruit quality, shelf-life and a dedicated disease resistance focus. Higher yielding strawberries will become ever more important in an economy of increasing costs and lower labour availability. Further, with the exacerbation of climate change, we are seeing a proliferation of strawberry diseases, hence the focus on resistant cultivars.

Blueberries

Climatic challenges have been high on the blueberry agenda in recent times, particularly with the effects of El Niño in Peru. A major topic has been the search for blueberry varieties with “El Niño-resistance”. In short, which varieties have continued to perform at a high level despite the climatic obstacles?

There is one particular GPG cultivar that has risen to this challenge and that is Maverick from The University of Georgia. Its evergreen characteristics have come to the fore this Peruvian season, with yields in excess of 6kgs / plant on one year old plants. In addition, it continues to produce large berries with exceptional shelf-life, combined with low acid and high brix levels. Maverick blueberry is performing similarly in many locations globally and is well placed to play a pivotal role in the future of blueberry production globally. GPG offers a range of other low-chill types, each providing growers and marketers the occasion to take advantage of expanding market opportunities. Examples include Tropical Blue, the earliest fruiting variety we have witnessed in low-chill environments; Gladiator with its exceptional berry size and fruit quality, as well as high yields; the Duchess series, Sweet Duchess, Early Duchess and Blue Duchess, each with excellent flavour and berry quality.

The global blueberry marketplace is expanding and it remains key for growers to supply only high-quality fruit to meet the exacting demands of the modern-day consumer. This task starts with high quality genetics such as those offered by GPG.

Raspberries

The global raspberry sector continues to grow, with several developments in the production and marketing of the crop. There is an increasing requirement to offer the same variety or suite of varieties all year. In addition, substrate production of raspberries has accelerated in some growing regions, allowing increased crop manipulation. Further, there are tangible developments in the world of processed raspberries. These include the start of a move from small-scale methods to more modern, larger-scale plantations with improved genetics, for both hand and machine harvest.

The GPG raspberry portfolio from James Hutton is playing an active role in many of these developments. Leading the way in fresh berry production are the primocanes, Skye and Lewis. Skye is a true double-cropping type with consistent fruit size and flavour over both crops. Its versatile nature means that it can also be successfully employed in single crop situations, using long canes. It is adapted to production in temperate and warmer climates. The large berries are well displayed and easily removed from the receptacle, leading to lower picking costs. Lewis is best employed as a single season early primocane variety.

In terms of floricane cultivars, Glen Mor is known as the world’s first raspberry variety with conferred resistance to Phytophthora. It is very early fruiting and can be successfully grown for fresh and processed production. Glen Dee has a moderately higher chill requirement and is therefore later to crop. It is expected to be widely planted for processed berry production due its exceptional yield and fruit quality aspects.

Blackberries

It is widely recognised that the greatest opportunity in blackberries is associated with better-eating varieties. There has been a small number of improved types launched in the recent past and these are now setting new standards. The industry’s challenge is to supply a consistently high-quality product throughout the whole year. This will be the key to earning repeat purchases from the retail customer. The shining star within the GPG portfolio is the variety, Von. Bred at North Carolina State University, Von is a floricane that thrives in long cane production. As a result, it is possible to supply the market with a consistently high-quality berry over 12 months, using a combination of temperate and warm growing regions in the same Continent, Europe being a classic example.

The global berry market is a fast moving, dynamic entity and it is essential for all major stakeholders to adapt to the various challenges and opportunities that are regularly present. In fact, it often seems that there are completely new challenges facing the industry on an annual basis. Breeders are working hard to both predict and overcome these challenges as they select improved varieties for future industry adoption. GPG works with some of the very best berry breeders in the world and is proud to develop new cultivars that are being grown globally as the berry industry rises to the challenges and takes advantage of new opportunities.