BerryWorld Plus has announced the launch of the UK’s first ever-home-bred blueberry, the BerryWorld Orb 2025.
The blueberry was developed in Kent at BerryWorld Plus’s breeding site in Faversham.
The northern highbush variety was originally selected by Peter Vinson in 2012 and progressed by Graham Clarkson in 2015.
It had been prized for its size, flavour, firm texture and shelf life, and was already receiving positive feedback from retailers, the company said.
It has upright plants, with good berry presentation, meaning the fruit is also easy to pick, which made it more convenient for growers, it added.
The variety is now being trialled as far as Chile, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, France, Italy and Romania.
“It’s promising to see successful breeding on British soil, with BerryWorld Orb delivering a sustainable offer for farms and for retailers,” said Samuel Rowe, CEO for BerryWorld Varieties. “In the UK retail market we’ve seen a fivefold increase in blueberry consumption the last 15 years, from some 12k tonnes annually in 2010, to nearly 65k tonnes in the most recent Kantar data.
“It’s exciting to be pioneering a UK first, and great to be able to offer locally bred varieties to British growers and shoppers as well, many of whom love to buy local produce when it’s in season.”
The new variety entered the market with small commercial volumes available at selected UK retailers this season.
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