2026 is proving to be a year of recognition for Planasa’s berry breeding programmes. Six blueberry and strawberry varieties and advanced selections have received the Superior Taste Award, granted by the International Taste Institute in Brussels. These six new awards add to the recognition obtained earlier this year by the raspberry variety Pink Hudson®.
In blueberries, Blue Maldiva® and Blue Madeira® have been distinguished with the Superior Taste Award following blind tastings carried out by an international jury made up of more than 200 chefs and sommeliers. Blue Maldiva® is positioned as a premium variety, combining outstanding flavour, jumbo-sized calibres and stable production throughout the season. Blue Madeira®, meanwhile, stands out for its firmness, shelf life and excellent organoleptic profile. The results underline the sensory quality of both varieties, with a remarkable balance between flavour, texture and consumer experience.
In strawberries, four new selections from Planasa’s breeding programme have also been recognised with this prestigious award granted by the International Taste Institute in Brussels. Three of them received the highest distinction of three stars, with scores exceeding 90% and, in some cases, approaching 95%.
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These recognitions highlight the long-standing efforts of Planasa’s breeding teams to strengthen a portfolio of varieties that is increasingly focused on quality, enabling the company to compete in the most demanding markets.
It should also be recalled that, in raspberries, the variety Pink Hudson® was also recognised earlier this year with the same award, achieving the highest rating of three stars and a score of 90.7%.
The Superior Taste Awards are granted annually following blind evaluations carried out by an independent jury made up of more than 200 tasting experts, including chefs and sommeliers from over 20 countries.
