The harvest of Nova Siri Genetics (NSG) strawberry cultivars in the main areas of the Mediterranean Basin started a few weeks ago. The use of NSG varieties for the 2024/25 campaign shows a further increase of 15% compared to the previous campaign, reaching 150 million plants produced, distributed as follows: 39% in Spain, 52% in Italy and 9% in the other Mediterranean production areas.
In particular, the varieties used by producers in the South of Italy grew by a further 12% to reach 78 million. In Spain, specifically in the province of Huelva, there are 58 million NSG strawberry plants during this campaign, which is a further increase of 16% compared to last year.
NSG 203 - Marimbella® is the earliest variety and represents a share of 47% of the cultivars of the breeding programme, distributed for the 2024/25 campaign. It is followed by Melissa with 20% and NSG 207-Gioelita® with 13%. Great success for NSG 465-Rossetta®, which in only 4 years after its launch reached 12% of the total with 17 million plants distributed for the 2024/25 campaign. The remaining share is represented by other varieties and cultivars in the trial phase.
“The success of our varieties - says Carmela Suriano, the company's EMEA director - is the result of research oriented towards production needs and different market segments. The strength of Marimbella®, for example, is its earliness and productivity starting in the autumn/winter months. What also makes it one of the most appreciated varieties by growers in the Mediterranean areas are certain characteristics of its fruit, such as its bright red colour and homogeneous shape, which are present even at low temperatures”.
Production of this variety using the pot plants started already in November in Spain, Italy, Greece, Morocco and Albania; for the fresh plant, however, the first harvest took place in the last days of December.
Particularly noteworthy is the cultivar NSG 465 - Rossetta®, which, with 17 million plants multiplied by 2024, confirms its enormous growth potential in the premium price segment, thanks to the beauty of its fruit in terms of shape and colour, its flavour and aroma, and its high shelf life. Harvesting of this cultivar will also begin by the end of January and will continue until the end of May.
The numerous positive feedback received from its nursery partners and growers mean that NSG is constantly working on the search for ever more innovative strawberry and berries cultivars that meet the current needs of the various players in the supply chain.
The activities carried out at the experimental fields of the research and experimentation centre in Policoro (MT) constitute the beating heart of the breeding company's research and testing activities.
“This year there are about 25,000 strawberry, raspberry and blackberry selections at different stages of development, among which we try to identify the cultivars of the future”, says Nicola Tufaro, NSG Geneticist. “In addition, the experimental fields of our NSG Network partner nurserymen and growers in the different areas of the Mediterranean basin and other temperate climate areas of the world that are suitable for strawberry cultivation, are also crucial. This allows us to analyse on a larger scale the performance of our advanced selections and their adaptability in different soil and climatic conditions, and cultivation systems”.
NSG is also organising the traditional open day of its research and experimentation centre in Policoro, which will be held again this year in spring. In the coming weeks, the company will communicate all the information necessary to participate to interested players in the supply chain.
