According to IFAPA (Andalusian Institute of Agricultural, Fisheries, Food and Organic Production Research and Training), the distribution of strawberry varieties in Huelva continues to favour proprietary varieties, particularly those of Fresas Nuevos Materiales.
Marisma remains the most widely cultivated variety, reinforcing the upward trend it has shown since its relatively recent introduction. It rose from 1.7% in the 2021/22 season to 4.5% in 2022/23 and 10.7% last season, reaching 12.5% in the current campaign.
Planasa’s Red Sayra variety also continues to gain ground, as it did last year. From 8.1% in 2023/24, it is now estimated to represent 12.1% of all plants cultivated, making it the second most important variety in Huelva.
Fortuna by Ekland Marketing Company INC (EmcoCAL) and Rociera by FNM, previously dominant, have gradually declined in recent years from their 75.4% peak share in the 2018/19 campaign.
Florida Fortuna is part of EmcoCAL’s extensive varietal programme from the University of Florida. This variety held a dominant position among Huelva growers for over a decade, consistently accounting for more than 30% of the planted area, and even exceeding 60% during the early 2000s.
More breeding programmes
The number of breeding companies working on varieties adapted to Huelva continues to increase, with more varieties either registered or in the registration process. This enriches the already wide varietal offering and allows the sector to better design production calendars tailored to commercial needs.
According to the IFAPA document, Fresas Nuevos Materiales holds 22.7% of the cultivated area in Huelva, maintaining the stability that has characterised it since the late 2010s. The second most important programme is Plant Sciences, with 18.5%, almost two points higher than the previous year.
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EmcoCAL currently operates a breeding programme whose final selection trials are conducted in the Condado de Huelva area.
Choosing which variety to plant each season remains one of the most crucial decisions in strawberry farming. Producers—especially the largest ones—consistently seek the most advantageous or distinctive varietal mix. As a result, the varietal landscape continues to shift from one season to the next.
One key issue highlighted in the IFAPA report is the use of soil disinfectants in nurseries, which hampers the ability to produce sufficient healthy plants. This problem arose this season and may recur in 2026.
