A new sweeter tasting raspberry variety, offering good fruit quality has been developed by the James Hutton Institute’s commercial subsidiary, James Hutton Limited.

The variety, Glen Carron, which was bred by soft fruit breeder, Nikki Jennings, is the result of a cross made in 2004, with trials beginning in 2010.

“Glen Carron has been a firm favourite in taste trials with growers throughout the UK and Europe due to its superb flavour and looks during the trialling period,” said Nikki. “In tasting sessions with other popular supermarket varieties, it always comes out top for flavour.

“In short, our new variety tastes great, looks great, has a higher shelf life and and therefore can contribute to reducing waste. It produces similar yields to other Glen varieties,” she added.

Backing up these statements, Jamie Smith, business development manager for James Hutton Limited said: “Our new raspberry is a new floricane variety that represents our aim to produce high-quality cultivars suitable for low-input systems that can be grown economically.

“The Raspberry Breeding Consortium’s programme is supported by the underpinning science of the James Hutton Institute and uses molecular markers to identify important traits early in the breeding process with the intent to reduce the long timescale of the breeding process.”

* There was also good news from the next potential superfood, the Honeyberry and Scottish Honeyberries Co-op, based in Invergowrie, near Dundee.

The Co-op which comprises nine growers throughout Scotland, is chaired by Angus-based producer, Stewart Arbuckle, who said plans are afoot for new, sweeter varieties of the honeyberry to be launched onto the commercial market in sufficient quantities for the 2020 season.

The Co-op is also looking to add value to the super healthy fruit that boasts higher levels of antioxidants and vitamin C than Blueberries, by developing jams and frozen smoothies. The berry also has brix and tannin levels that make it ideal for wine and gin making.