Consumer testing has put three new blackberry varieties from Driscoll’s ahead of a non-registered variety that shares the same marketing window.
The Opinion Group carried out the recent panel tasting in which 93 per cent of the tasters gave the Driscoll’s fruit the highest score possible; between four and five out of five.
The tasters dubbed the fruit “extraordinary”, “unique”, “delicious”, “with a lot of taste…not sour, but ripe”. They also indicated a higher buying intention rate (even with a higher price), which is significantly higher than the tested public variety.
Driscoll’s Europe, Middle East & Africa office said in a statement that all three new varieties are part of its breeding programme, in which it seeks to combine as many good qualities in terms of flavour, condition and appearance in one variety as possible. This shows in the flavour, appearance and condition of Driscoll’s blackberries.
Theo Houwen, md of Driscoll’s of Europe, Middle East & Africa said: “They taste sweet and fresh, have a nice, intense colour and are long lasting... The positive consumer feedback on the new blackberry varieties strengthens Driscoll’s belief in a comeback of the blackberry in the European market which fits our ambition to grow the berry category as a whole.”
