Spanish soft fruit developer Planasa Group has announced the launch of a new subsidiary in Mexico with a view to breeding berry varieties better suited to the country’s climate, improving quality and crop volume levels.
Named Planamerica, the new company will be based in the western region of Michoacán, the principal area for berry production in the country.
Planasa said the decision to create Planamerica, which will be overseen by Fabricio Blanco from Mexican soft fruit specialist Freshcampo, had come after successful trials of its Sabrina and Cristal varieties in Michoacán.
Although the first commercial plantings of the varieties will not take place until next January, work has already started developing strawberry and raspberry products at a 40ha nursery, based some 1,600m above sea level in Ciudad Guzmán, Jalisco.
Planasa said Planamerica also has plans to begin work with its varieties in other product areas, including asparagus, garlic and fruit trees.
In a statement, Planasa managing director Alexandre Darbonne said: “Mexico is today the most important berry producing country in the Americas, but it lacks the technology, and research and development that a company such as ours can provide.
“Through Planamerica, we will take our ‘know-how’ to Mexico, developing varieties for Mexican producers specifically adapted to Michoacán’s climate and through this improving the volume levels and quality of their harvests.”
As well as Mexico, Planasa has subsidiaries in France, Italy, Poland and California in the US. Mr Darbonne added that the group was also examining the possibility of opening another venture in a third country in the Americas.
