BerryGardens has promised that research and development will be at the centre of its future strategy.
Managing director Nick Marston, giving a season’s update at last week’s Fruit Focus event, said that it was the company’s intention to match production and supply across all territories. “We are investing more in research and development than anyone else in the industry,” he explained.
Marston pointed out that next year over half of the company’s berry production will be in proprietary varieties such as Jubilee and Camarillo. Some 10.5 million Jubilee plants have been planted in the UK, with 7.5m Camarillo.
Having consolidated the R&D activities under the Berry Gardens Plants banner, the firm’s strawberry breeding programme is now targeted at both the northern and southern European production areas, led by former Driscoll’s raspberry breeder Dr Carlos Fear.
The firm has now relocated its core breeding and selection activities to East Malling Research. “With the level of investment we hope to have more varietal development, so we should be able to offer more exclusivity. Introducing varieties is very important but it is something that has not always been done will in horticulture. You have to place products with the right retailer at the right price,” Marston maintained.
KG growers will be planting the former KG strawberry varieties Cordelia, Hermione, Juliet and Ophelia in commercial quantities in 2008.
“We are delighted that the KG germplasm will now be used in cross breeding with the very best of Driscoll’s north American breeding lines to make our programme potentially very exciting during the next few years,” explained chairman Angus Davison.
Two new everbearers from the Driscoll’s programme, 42J224 and Driscoll Amesti, are being trialled in the UK this summer, while two further selections, 163M88 and Driscoll Sisquoc, are also being developed for production in Spain by Alconeras next year.
Marston predicted that two Driscoll raspberries, Y111.1 and Z121.1, have great potential.
In terms of supply and demand, Marston anticipated a relatively flat period of raspberry production, matching demand throughout the season.
Strawberry sales were down 15 percent year on year for the last week of July, thanks largely to the poor weather, though raspberry sales were up three percent. But for the year to July 15 sales were up 17 percent over 2006. And everbearer crops are looking promising to bring a good August and September, Marston predicted. Crucially, an inflation of approximately five percent has been achieved on standard strawberry prices.
The increased volume of 10,335 tonnes of strawberries sold to July 15 was produced from a smaller surface area.
In a swipe at local residents who have complained about the impact of polytunnels this season, Davison raised the question of what the picture would have looked like had 97 percent of the firm’s raspberries and 93 percent of strawberries not been covered. “The majority of our growers would probably have been out of business at the end of July if it weren’t for tunnels,” Marston concurred.
KG growers represent 55 percent of BerryGardens production, while Driscoll’s and Alconeras make up 15 to 20 percent. The company has a turnover of some €295m.
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