Egypt and Jordan on the rise in premium strawberries

This year’s demonstrations of new varieties from UC Davis highlighted Egypt and Jordan’s increasing significance in strawberry production, according to Rupert Hargreaves, co-owner of UK intellectual property specialist Global Plant Genetics.

Strawberry nurseries from 12 countries, alongside a team from UC Davis, visited the countries to explore advancements in strawberry genetics.
The tour began with a visit to Domiatec Agri-Group in Egypt, where participants witnessed presentations and field visits showcasing the company’s tissue culture laboratory and nursery facilities.

UC Davis’ new strawberry varieties displayed remarkable fruit quality and yield, according to Hargreaves, reinforcing Egypt’s position as a key player in the global strawberry market.
The group then traveled to Jordan, where Highland Ag Investments, led by Abdallah Al Tayeh, showcased premium UC Davis cultivars, including UC Victor, UC Valiant, UC Moxie and UC Royal Royce.

“A highlight was the introduction of new high-specification tunnels from Haygrove, with 1 hectare dedicated to UC Davis fruit production and another for nursery propagation,” said Hargreaves. “Abdallah’s expertise, advanced infrastructure and premium genetics made this setup a regional model.”

In Jordan, short-day variety UC Victor showed exceptional fruit loads, with a peak expected in May and June, while UC Royal Royce impressed with its vibrant colour.

“UC Victor produced large, high-quality fruit with exceptional shelf life and flavour, with a well-balanced sugar-acid profile,” said Hargraves. “Harvesting every five days enhanced flavour and internal colour. UC Royal Royce, planted in October 2024, demonstrated outstanding fruit size and vibrant colour, meeting high expectations.

“This showcase emphasised Egypt and Jordan’s growing influence in global strawberry production. With expert growers, premium genetics, and advanced infrastructure, the future of strawberry cultivation in these regions looks promising.”