New compact blackberry variety offers higher planting density and earlier harvests
Pairwise has introduced Fontana™, a new primocane blackberry variety developed for commercial fresh-market cultivation. The variety features a compact plant architecture, an earlier and more concentrated fruiting window, and characteristics intended to increase yields while reducing labour requirements during cultivation and harvesting.
“We started with a great berry and improved the plant around it,” said Ryan Bartlett, Chief Technology Officer at Pairwise. “Fontana helps growers produce significantly more fruit per acre while simplifying some of the most labor-intensive parts of blackberry production, making it a true win-win-win — for growers, for retailers, and for consumers, who enjoy high-quality, delicious fruit that’s more seasonally available.”
Fontana is based on an existing Plant Sciences Genetics (PSG) variety selected for its flavour and fruit quality. Pairwise developed the variety with a compact plant architecture, reaching approximately 3.5 to 5 feet, around half the height of a conventional blackberry plant.
The reduced plant height allows for higher planting densities without pruning and with minimal trellis labour. Combined with an earlier and more concentrated harvest window, these characteristics can increase yields per acre while simplifying crop management and harvesting. The variety may also be suitable for cultivation across more locations with an earlier harvest window.
Fontana’s characteristics include higher-density planting, earlier harvesting, and a shorter harvest period. The variety is intended to provide consistent fruit quality across different growing regions and seasons, while its compact architecture improves fruit accessibility during harvesting.
Further blackberry varieties under development
Fontana is the first in a pipeline of blackberry varieties being developed by Pairwise. Future varieties include thornless and seedless blackberries. The development programme focuses on improving cultivation economics, reducing resource requirements, and introducing fruit characteristics intended for the fresh market.
For more information:
Pairwise
Email: communications@pairwise.com
www.pairwise.com
