A new berry superpower stepped up onto the global stage at Fruit Logistica after its formation on February 7.
Berry Gardens, which is owned by UK-based KG Fruits, US breeder Driscoll Strawberry Associates and Spain-based Alconeras, has merged their European marketing and R&D industries.
The move has created the second-largest berry company in the world after Driscoll with a projected turnover of €300 million in 2008.
KG Fruits md Nick Marston told FPJ: “We have been working together for the best part of a decade in one form or another, and we finally agreed on the creation of Berry Gardens in May last year.
“The intention is to provide everybody - growers, retailers and consumers - with the very best berries from the best breeders, the best nurseries, the best growers, the best packhouses and the best retailers.
“The idea is to gather our global expertise. Our strategy is to invest in R&D and in new varieties.”
Berry Gardens has earmarked €2m for investment in plant breeding and R&D for strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries that will be exclusive to the firm.
Promising varieties in the Berry Gardens stable include premium Jubilee strawberries and the Camarillo variety, which has seen production increase substantially across the UK and Europe, as well as raspberries Pacifica and Sevillana, both premium lines, and the standard Meravilla variety, which has shown a marked improvement on UK primocanes Autumn Bliss and Polka since initial trials three years ago, according to Marston.
Blackberries Carmel and Sleeping Beauty also form part of the Berry Gardens portfolio and a blueberry breeding programme by Driscoll is expected to yield its first proprietary variety.
The majority of the varieties, which are already available commercially, will be grown in the UK and northern Europe.
