Friday, 16 July 2021 13:55

New blueberry varieties available

Written by  Staff Reporters
Plant & Food Research says it is making 11 new blueberry varieties available to New Zealand-based growers. Plant & Food Research says it is making 11 new blueberry varieties available to New Zealand-based growers.

NZ blueberry growers now have access to new varieties with large, tasty fruit ideal for export.

Plant & Food Research says it is making 11 new blueberry varieties available to New Zealand-based growers, threee from the organisation's own breeding programme and eight licensed from Fall Creek Farm & Nursery in the USA.

Of the new varieties, three are Southern Highbush, seven are Northern Highbush and one is Rabbiteye.

According to Plant & Food, the new varieties produce large fruit with good flavour, with a range of seasonality. It adds that all have shown good adaptabilty fo New Zealand conditions in trials to date.

"These new varieties offer a significant opportunity for New Zealand growers to improve their blueberry production and offer new, tasty blueberries to consumers at home and overseas," says Gavin Ross, group general manager marketing and innovation.

"The new varieties produce tasty berries with high consumer appeal, and grow well in New Zealand conditions," he adds. "We hope the addition of these new varieties to the suite of plants available to growers will help expand the blueberry sector and increase export opportunities over the next decade."

Ross says growers are invited to apply for a non-exclusive licence to cultivate and grow the varieties for fruit production in New Zealand and for the marketing and sale of fruit worldwide.

Growers who sign up to a licence agreement will be able to place orders with authorised nurseries.

New Zealand currently produces 3,000 tonnes of blueberries from 640 hectares of land, earning $39 million in exports.

Plant & Food Research will gain royalty payments from the licensing arrangement, which it says will be used to further research that benefits New Zealand's AgriFood industries.

More information about the varieties and how to license them can be found on the Plant & Food Research website: www.plantandfood.co.nz.

More like this

Farming systems influence health

According to findings from a Plant & Food Research study commissioned by the Kete Ora Trust, farming systems influence the quality of soil, food and human health.

Featured

Better animal genetic gain system

A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.

SIDE 2025's new schedule, venue

Annual farmer gathering, the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE), is set to make history as it heads to Timaru for the first time.

Taranaki piggery goes solar

Installing 400 solar panels at their Taranaki piggery and cropping operation will have significant environmental, financial and animal welfare benefits for the Stanley family.

Editorial: Keep FTAs coming

OPINION: The dairy industry will  be a major beneficiary of a new free trade deal between NZ and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).

National

Scanning data at your fingertips

A partnership between two technology companies in Hawke's Bay is making orchard data more easily accessible to growers using new…

Iwi eyes hort for progress

A post settlement treaty organisation in Wairoa is banking on horticulture to boost employment and income for its people.

Machinery & Products

NH unveils specialty tractor

New Holland recently showcased its new-generation T4.120 F specialty tractor, giving New Zealand customers a closer look at the winner…

Combining track and tyre

While the last fifty years has seen massive evolution and development of the humble tractor tyre, the last two decades…

Croplands goes nuts with Nelson

Croplands and Nelson Manufacturing Company Inc, a California-based manufacturer of air-blast sprayers, has announced a new distribution partnership to deliver…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Leaky waka

OPINION: Was the ASB Economic Weekly throwing shade on Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr when reporting on his speech in…

Know-it-alls

OPINION: A reader recently had a shot at the various armchair critics that she judged to be more than a…

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter