The Spanish breeding company, with headquarters in Huelva and Badajoz and commercial presence in Greece, Morocco, Egypt, Mexico and the United States, has entered the market with a business model based on genetic innovation aimed at addressing the real needs of growers and markets. Berries del Oeste has developed rustic, resilient varieties focused on productivity, delivering highly attractive fruits with long shelf life and excellent flavor.
Arwen and Áurea, the stars
The demands of the British market, traditionally demanding in terms of post-harvest, were the starting point for the breeding work. “We wanted strawberries that would arrive at their destination in perfect condition, with the same color, shine and flavor they had in the field,” says Aliseda. From this effort came the first two commercial varieties: Arwen and Áurea.
Both stand out for their long shelf life, an attribute that exceeds any current market standard, and for their resistance to botrytis and fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, which minimizes the use of phytosanitary products and ensures post-harvest quality, even in wet seasons like the last one. “It is important to point out that the fruit must withstand the best conditions throughout the commercial chain. Our strawberries never arrive at destination with problems,” highlights the technical director.
Field efficiency
Unlike most varieties that concentrate fruit in peaks that are difficult to manage, Arwen and Áurea deliver continuous and balanced production throughout the cycle, as long as no severe climatic event occurs. Afterward, the plant returns to its normal habit. “There are no major fruit peaks, which avoids labor bottlenecks and allows the supply to the market to be stabilized, reducing pressure during days of overproduction,” notes Aliseda.
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The plant’s architecture reinforces this efficiency. With long peduncles and open leaves, harvesting is simplified. “We selected a plant that makes the grower’s work easier and improves harvesting costs.”
Sustainability and adaptation to new scenarios
Another strength of Berries del Oeste’s varieties is their tolerance to non-disinfected soils, a critical aspect at a time when the use of chemical disinfectants is increasingly restricted. Experience in Greece, where these varieties remain productive for five consecutive years in the same soil without yield losses, has demonstrated their adaptability and opened the door to more sustainable management.
In addition, these strawberries allow harvesting intervals to be extended to five or six days without losing quality or commercial value. In this context, not only are human resources optimized, but the fruit also achieves larger calibers and higher brix levels, resulting in a more attractive and profitable final product, with more grams per plant.
Consolidation in Huelva
Berries del Oeste’s growth has been steady since its arrival in Huelva, with sales almost doubling each campaign. “Companies that try our varieties come back and expand their acreage because they see that final profitability is greater thanks to the combination of resilience, quality and productivity,” says Aliseda.
