Agricultural Research Service Develops New Strawberry & Blackberry

Berries of all types are wonderful additions to a healthy diet, providing nutrients, fiber, and flavor. Two new berries have been developed, thanks to scientists at the Agricultural Research Service’s Horticultural Crops Research Unit in Corvallis, Oregon, and their collaborators.

Sweet Sunrise (U.S.PP 25,223) is a new strawberry cultivar from the Corvallis breeding program, which is led by ARS plant geneticist Chad Finn. Sweet Sunrise was released in cooperation with the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station (OAES) and Washington State University’s Agricultural Research Center.

The new strawberry is a high-yielding cultivar that ripens in June. It produces large, firm, attractive fruit with excellent quality. According to Finn, Sweet Sunrise was high yielding in every trial and location. Yields were comparable to, or higher than, those of other recent releases such as Charm, Valley Red, and Sweet Bliss or the industry standards Tillamook, Totem, and Hood. In all evaluations, Sweet Sunrise was rated excellent and comparable to Totem for commercial processors.

To read the rest of the story, please go to: USDA AgResearch Magazine