The strawberry cultivars of Nova Siri Genetics (NSG), an Italian berry breeding company, continue their rise in production areas characterized by a Mediterranean climate. In particular, in the southern Italian regions, where strawberry production is concentrated in the winter and spring months, 70 million plants were distributed by nurserymen authorized by the company, with a growth of 7% compared to the last campaign.

“We record a growing demand for our strawberry varieties from producers in southern Italy - states Carmela Suriano, EMEA director of the company - who increasingly appreciate the rusticity, earliness and fruit quality of NSG's patented cultivars. The rusticity of the plants has become a key feature for strawberry growers, given the increase in production in tired soils, under adverse climatic conditions and with strong limitations in the use of phytoiatric products. Precocity and scalarity of production allow to supply the markets as early as the autumn months with a high quality standard in terms of shape, color and organoleptic quality of the fruit."

These aspects are the main strengths of the NSG cultivars which made them successful, leading to an increase in demand in the last three years, which in Italy is 32%. With over 35 million plants distributed for the 2023/24 campaign, which is equivalent to 14% increase over the last campaign, the NSG 203 strawberry variety (marketed under the Marimbella® brand) is most requested cultivar by producers. Used both as a pot plant and as a fresh plant, Marimbella® is already in production in Campania, Basilicata, Calabria and Sicily. Alongside Marimbella®, the NSG 465 - Rossetta® cultivar is growing in the premium segment, recording an increase of 32% compared to 2023.