Research group The James Hutton Institute has developed two new primocane raspberry varieties to help widen the British berry season.
Yet to be named, the new varieties are early and late season fruits, with the breeding programme funded by a consortium of berry producers, the Scottish government and AHDB.
The late variety, currently dubbed RBC16P4 is described as sweet, aromatic with a low acidity, and a higher Brix than Kweli and Kwanza varieties, at 10.8.
Their new early season variety also boasts a high Brix of 10.4 with a large size, as well as being quick and easy to pick.
Jamie Smith, business development manager for James Hutton Limited, said: “We’ve normally produced floricane varieties in Scotland, only in the last five to ten years people are changing to primocanes.
“We’ve developed an early and a late season variety which will extend the season as there’s room for extension particularly in raspberries and blueberries.”
