Berry Sensation

DESIRE · BLUSH · TEMPTATION

Our strawberries
have names
for a reason.

Distinctive varieties. A continuing story of development. Discover the fruit—and the care behind how we grow it.

Discover the varietiesSee how we grow
Blush strawberries showing pale pink skin and white flesh
Meet BlushOur distinctive white strawberry
Desire released in 2017Seven years of commercial Blush productionTemptation in limited release

MEET THE VARIETIES

Three names.
Distinct identities.

Explore the colours, the commercial history and what comes next. Select a variety to discover its story.

Desire strawberries showing red skin and red flesh

FIRST COMMERCIAL RELEASE · 2017

Desire

Where our commercial variety story began. Desire has the traditional strawberry appearance: dark red, glossy skin and red flesh.

Skin
Dark red and glossy
Flesh
Red
Commercial story
Released in 2017

Temptation is the current name of our next variety. Its release remains limited.

BEHIND THE BERRY

Good growing
starts with care.

Our growing approach brings protected cropping together with Integrated Pest Management. It is a story of observation, protection and beneficial insects.

01 / PROTECTION

Growing under cover

Protected cropping shelters fruit from direct rain. Keeping rain off the crop can help reduce rain damage and some mould losses. Ventilation and daily crop management still matter.

02 / BENEFICIAL INSECTS

Meet the good bugs

Our own on-farm insectary produces some of the beneficial predators used in our growing system. We also source specialist beneficial insects from Bugs for Bugs.

03 / CROP MANAGEMENT

An integrated approach

Integrated Pest Management brings different methods together to manage pests. Beneficial insects are part of our system; protected cropping does not automatically mean pesticide-free fruit.

Your growing questions

What is protected cropping?

It means growing with structures or covers that provide protection from the weather. The growing environment still needs careful management, including ventilation, irrigation and pest monitoring.

What is an insectary?

An insectary is a place where insects are raised. At Berry Sensation, ours produces some beneficial predators for use in our pest-management system.

Do beneficial insects mean no sprays?

Using beneficial insects does not, by itself, establish that a crop is spray-free. Our insectary and specialist insects form part of our Integrated Pest Management approach.

Why does Blush look different?

Blush has white skin that can blush to light pink, with white flesh. Desire has dark red glossy skin and red flesh; Temptation has light red skin and white flesh.

OUR STORY BEGAN IN 2010

A clear purpose.
A different strawberry.

Protected cropping and distinctive varieties were deliberate responses to the needs of Australian retailers and the challenges of farming in a changing climate.

Finding the opportunity

In 2010, Barry Richards undertook extensive market research into future development opportunities in Australian agriculture. Drawing on his experience in farming, water and energy, and growing concerns about climate variability, he established one essential requirement: the business needed to operate in a protected growing environment.

Strawberries emerged as the leading opportunity.

Listening to retailers

Discussions with Australia’s largest retailers identified clear expectations: year-round availability, consistent quality, better aroma, better taste and longer shelf life.

Barry saw glasshouse production as the best opportunity to work towards reliable year-round supply. Meeting the other expectations would also require introducing new strawberry varieties to Australia.

A search across the world

Barry undertook an overseas research tour across many countries, seeking an association with strawberry breeders whose varieties could meet these requirements.

Following that search, Berry Sensation chose an exclusive arrangement out of Japan covering more than 12 varieties.

The foundation of Berry Sensation

That decision brought together protected growing environments and carefully selected varieties, with their potential developed under Australian commercial conditions.

The original market needs continue to guide our work: distinctive fruit, careful production and an eating experience that customers want to enjoy again.

Our commercial variety journey

2017

Desire

Our first commercial strawberry variety is released.

Seven years

Blush

Seven years of commercially producing our white strawberry.

Now

Temptation

Light red skin, white flesh and a current limited release.

THE NEXT CHAPTER

Growing the opportunity.
Together.

Berry Sensation is developing a collaborative growth model that connects distinctive varieties, production knowledge and market relationships with participating farms.

For growers and retailers, the opportunity extends beyond one white strawberry. It is a relationship with an evolving variety portfolio and a shared focus on the eating experience.

For retailer, grower and general enquiries:
info@berrysensation.com.au
0409 993 384