A high-yielding and disease-resistant new strawberry variety has been unveiled at the Ekka.
The new subtropical strawberry variety, Stella-ASBP, was developed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and Hort Innovation’s Australian Strawberry Breeding Program (ASBP) in partnership with Hort Innovation and the Australian berry industry.
“It is an understatement to say our sub-tropical strawberry growers are delighted with Stella-ASBP. The industry has played a critical role in working alongside breeding experts and supporting consumer preference testing to see this latest variety realised. Consumers are going to love it,” said Berries Australia executive director Rachel Mackenzie.
Stella-ASBP, set to hit the shelves this winter, has strengths including its resistance to red leaf disorder, ensuring healthier and more robust plants.
Its high yield promises an abundant supply of delicious strawberries and it has rated highly in consumer testing.
“The continuous development and improvement of our varieties ensures more robust plants with better yields and more supply, so everyone can continue to enjoy strawberries year-round, and on their Ekka sundaes,” said minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, the honourable Mark Furner..
“Queensland strawberry growers produce 42% of Australia’s strawberries, contributing $180 million for the Queensland economy.”
The Stella-ASBP strawberry is named in honour of the late Stella Young, a renowned journalist, disability activist and comedian, who passed away in 2014.
“Naming this remarkable strawberry variety after the late Stella Young is a tribute to her legacy. We are proud to celebrate her memory with the Stella-ASBP strawberry,” said Furner.
Variety names are not commonly included on strawberry punnets for consumers to identify, however, this great-tasting variety will improve the overall consumer experience.
The Australian Strawberry Breeding Program has been funded by Hort Innovation using the strawberry research and development levy.
There was also co-contributions from the Queensland Government through its Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and funds from the Australian Government.
Strawberry data was sourced from the 2022/23 Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook.
