Eurosemillas' Red Innovation Hub connects the breeder with major strawberry growers and operators

At the 2025 edition of Fruit Attraction, Eurosemillas presented The Red Innovation Hub, a platform with which the group intended to go beyond the mere varietal development of strawberry crops. Since then, the Spanish company has organized successive and large-scale meetings in up to 14 countries—starting in Huelva (Spain) and concluding this September in the province of Tucumán (Argentina)—where the breeder, the researchers themselves responsible for the breeding programs of the new varieties commercialized by the Spanish company, shared experiences and opportunities with local growers, nurseries, main operators, and retailers of each producing region and market. "We have leveraged Eurosemillas' 36 years of experience tied to strawberry development to connect and bring the know-how of the breeders we work with—California Berry Cultivars (CBC) and Fresas Nuevos Materiales (FNM), with whom we collaborate in South America—closer to the various links in the strawberry supply chain. We went beyond analyzing field performance or yield of our varieties and assisted in achieving a crop better adapted to climate change with an extended season. Through these sessions, we aimed to help the sector better understand and adapt to demand. In light of the recent surge in varieties over recent years, we wanted to help consolidate quality standards in the fruit—qualities that consumers can recognize and appreciate in our strawberries," explains Manuel Cano, General Manager of Eurosemillas and head of this business area.

Eurosemillas at Fruit Attraction

During these workshops and field days—which included visits to trial plots of the aforementioned breeders—attendees evaluated the characteristics and performance of the varieties introduced during the previous season. Specifically, in 2025, Belvedere was already planted, being an early variety with high-quality fruit and excellent post-harvest shelf life; Adelanto, arguably the earliest 'short-day' variety on the market (favoring flower induction during shorter daylight hours and moderate to low temperatures); and Alturas, a premium 'day-neutral' strawberry (where flower induction depends little on day length) featuring exceptional fruit size and quality over long harvest periods. During this year's Fruit Attraction (October 6–8) and during these workshops, information was also shared regarding the latest introduction from Eurosemillas developed by CBC, Castaic—another short-day variety distinguished by its high and sustained yields throughout the season. This strawberry is already in an advanced commercial trial phase, alongside a fifth, Elcano (also short-day), and two others set to debut soon—Arteria and Alhambra—ideal for organic production. Overall, these strawberries are particularly attractive for regions like Huelva, allowing harvesting to begin a month earlier and extend a month later.

Image by Eurosemillas

Eurosemillas was present at Fruit Attraction with an exhibition stand reinforcing the central concept defining the company's varietal offer: The Home of Innovation. On this occasion, they went even further by pairing that concept with a compelling slogan, 'Open to wonder' (Ábrete a lo extraordinario). Both ideas were highlighted across floor and wall graphics along the central hallway at IFEMA, which helped guide visitors to the stand while showcasing this year's new varietal additions.

For Eurosemillas, innovation means continuing to bring advancements through another international platform co-sponsored with the University of California, Riverside (UCR): Green Motion Avocados. In 2024, the project released its first variety—Luna—which began coexisting and competing in yield with the well-established Lamb Hass benchmark. During the fair, information was also shared regarding the upcoming release—expected around 2027 or 2028—of three new Hass-type varieties and two rootstocks developed under this international breeding program.

Tango Fruit 'Taste of the Year' and Kino

Special mention goes to the extra-late and extra-sweet Kino mandarin, which began promotional efforts in 2023 and whose plantings continue to expand across major citrus regions, though commercial production remains in its early stages. The situation is quite different for Tang Gold (as registered in the EU), another mandarin licensed by Eurosemillas, which has established itself as a leading protected variety across citrus markets in both hemispheres. On this occasion, the brand built around this variety—Tango Fruit—was awarded the 'Taste of the Year 2026' distinction by consumers in Spain and Portugal. Eurosemillas has submitted its candidacy to retain this award so it can display the seal on its brand again in 2027.

*All images by Eurosemillas. 

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