In this newly launched distribution campaign, the strawberry plants from NSG varieties, which will be distributed by licensed nurseries, show a +15% increase compared to last year, reaching around 150 million plants. The distribution of the pot plants happening these days, which will yield the first fruits in the last months of this year, will be followed by the distribution of fresh plants in early October, for fruit production starting from the first weeks of 2025.
These numbers reflect the success that the strawberry cultivars from the Italian research and experimentation company have achieved over the past years, both among nurseries and producers.
Compared to the last campaign, both the hectares of nurseries dedicated to NSG strawberry varieties and the number of nurseries authorized for their propagation have increased, reaching 15 across Spain and Poland.
Nicola Tufaro, a breeder from the genetic improvement company, explains: “One of the most appreciated characteristics of our varieties by nurseries is undoubtedly their hardiness, as it allows plant propagation in nurseries even in challenging soils and without the use of products previously employed for soil disinfection. Resistance to major soil pathogens, in fact, represents a key strength of our varieties, along with their ability to adapt to ongoing climate changes.”
In terms of production, in addition to the Mediterranean basin areas (Southern Italy, Spain, Maghreb, Albania, Greece), there is growing interest in NSG strawberry varieties from other parts of the world with temperate climates particularly suited to this crop, such as Australia, India, South America, and South Africa.
“The cultivars from our breeding program,” states Carmela Suriano, EMEA director of NSG, “are also appreciated by producers for their adaptability to different soil types and low environmental impact cultivation techniques. Additionally, they stand out for their gradual ripening and excellent productivity, as well as for their organoleptic characteristics, appearance, and shelf life. As part of our international expansion project, we are also planning to establish nurseries outside Europe, to better meet the growing demand from local nurseries, such as in Egypt and India.”
NSG 203 - Marimbella®, NSG 465 - Rossetta®, Melissa, and NSG 207 - Gioelita® are the strawberry varieties that make up the offering of the Italian research company. This complementary offering, in terms of ripening times and fruit characteristics, allows producers to serve the market for up to 8 months a year.
Furthermore, NSG continues with the experimentation of new strawberry selections with its global partners, aiming to test their adaptability and verify the innovative morphological and physiological traits introduced through natural crosses. In particular, the process has already begun to obtain community protection for a promising strawberry selection known for its organoleptic characteristics and shelf life, as well as for the company's first raspberry variety.
This year, Nova Siri Genetics is ready to explore all these innovations and meet new partners during the Fruit Attraction fair in Madrid on October 8-9-10, at pavilion 9, stand 9G06.
Source: NSG
Italian Berry - All rights reserved
