Growers are “really excited” about the berry’s creation.
The first blueberry designed to flourish in the Scottish climate has been created by scientists(Image: The James Hutton Institute / SWNS)
Scientists have created the first blueberry specifically designed to flourish in Scotland’s climate. The discovery has left researchers “really excited”.
The unique blueberry has been named by its creators as the ‘Highland Charm’. The fruit is the result of around 10 years of research.
The Highland Charm was created as part of a programme at The James Hutton Institute. The institute’s breeding site at Invergowrie saw the making of more than 300 unique blueberry crosses.
Every blueberry was investigated to find a selection bred from the native north American species that can flourish in the Scottish climate. The resulting berry has been described as “a real standout”.
According to blueberry breeder Susan McCallum, the development of the Highland Charm has been met with enthusiasm. She stated that growers are “really excited” about its creation.
McCallum commented: “This cultivar is a real standout. It combines high yields, excellent fruit size, outstanding flavour, with a balanced sugar-acid profile and a satisfying bite, and an impressive shelf life.
The berry has been described as a “real standout”(Image: The James Hutton Institute / SWNS)
“It is reliable and has performed well in our trials year after year, with consistent yield, size and taste.”
The new berry has been successfully trialled in the UK and the EU. It has consistently performed well across multiple seasons and diverse conditions.
UK consumers purchase approximately 60,000 tonnes of blueberries per year. However, 90 per cent of these are imported from overseas.
As part of efforts to tackle the problem, researchers are investigating how the cultivar responds under different growing conditions, as well as with reduced input systems, aligning with the industry’s goals of sustainability and efficiency. McCallum hopes the new berry will inspire consumers to buy in-season and local fruit.
She continued: “They are fresher with higher health benefits than imported berries that take six weeks to get from the field to the shelves. The imported fruit is often picked slightly too early and while its colour continues to develop, its flavour does not.
“I guarantee people will taste the difference with in-season, local fruit and will want to go back for more.”
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Highland Charm is currently going through the licensing process that will declare it to be a “novel and unique blueberry”. It is believed that the berry will land on supermarket shelves in between two to three years.
According to scientists at the James Hutton Institute, Scotland’s fertile soils, abundance of clean water, and milder summer temperatures create optimal conditions for producing high-quality berries. Cooler summers extend the ripening period of soft fruit and allow for greater accumulation of sugars and acids, resulting in “a more intense, well-balanced flavour” compared to berries that ripen rapidly in hotter climates.
The Hutton is an internationally renowned research centre whose breeding programme supports the entire fruit supply chain from growers to marketing organisations and retailers.