New Variety of Strawberries

The Australian Strawberry Program is a collaboration between Hort Innovation and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Each year they trial, taste, and assess thousands of new varieties of strawberries.  Twelve new varieties have been commercialised through natural breeding derived from identifying the best tasting and fruit yielding strawberry variety. The program has an estimated national farm gate value of $201 million in 2018-19 and now makes up 80 per cent of strawberries planted in Queensland,

The Program is currently screening strawberries for the presence of aromatic compounds that contribute to that sweet peach flavour in strawberries and the presence of genes that contribute to this. They are also producing white and pale strawberries – like strawberries and cream. The varieties are pure white on the inside and taste a bit like pineapples. Plus a new darker variety that’s the colour of red wine.