Newswise, September 14, 2015 – Strawberry fans, rejoice. The newest
Cornell University strawberry variety concentrates intense flavor in a berry
big enough to fill the palm of your hand.
Topping out at over 50 grams, Archer, the latest creation from
Cornell University berry breeder Courtney Weber, is comparable in size to a
plum or small peach. But this behemoth stands out in ways beyond just its
proportions: the flavor and aroma exceed what you’d expect from a strawberry of
such unusual size.
“Archer is an extraordinarily high-flavored berry,” said
Weber, associate professor in the Horticulture Section of the School of
Integrative Plant Science.
“It has an intense aroma, so when you bite into it you get a
strong strawberry smell, and it’s very sweet, so you get a strong strawberry
flavor that really makes an impact.”
Weber says the combination of large fruit and strong flavor
hits t3he sweet spot for local growers who sell in farmers’ markets, u-pick
sites and roadside stands. Archer ripens in June and holds its large size
through multiple harvests for two to three weeks.
“Strawberries are the ultimate summertime fruit that signal
the start of the summer season. People love that vivid flavor, and Archer
delivers a complex, sunny aroma and taste that just screams summer,” said
Weber.
“Consumers have a real preference for large berries, and with
fruits that can be as big as the palm of your hand, Archer really draws
people’s attention and fills baskets quickly. It’s larger on average than any
of the dozens of strawberry varieties we’ve tested over the years.”
And this big berry is no wimp: The cold-hardy variety is tough
enough to withstand winters, making it suitable for growing in diverse climates
throughout New York as well as in places like Michigan and Minnesota and along
the Mid-Atlantic from Maryland into the Northeast.
Weber’s strawberries are bred to be hardy. He breeds in a
perennial system without soil fumigation so that only the most robust varieties
thrive. With a durable root system, this high-yield variety is tolerant to root
rots and other common diseases.
Archer has been licensed to Krohne Plant Farms in Hartford,
Michigan, through the Center for Technology Licensing at Cornell University,
and plants can be obtained for spring 2017 planting atwww.krohneplantfarms.com or
by calling 269-424-5423.
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