Florida Growing New ‘Fifth Berry’ White Strawberry (Fruit Growers News)

Florida Growing New ‘Fifth Berry’ White Strawberry

As with Strawberry Fields Forever, Florida growers are growing a new colored strawberry to give them some ammunition to recapture customers lost to other growing regions.

Similar to the Beatles’ “Fifth Beatle,” growers are labeling white strawberries as the Fifth Berry. The white strawberry doesn’t resemble the bright red berries Florida growers are known for producing in the winter. The white berry with pink seeds joins the four leading U.S. berries: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.

The white berries, also known as pineberries, possess a pink blush when ripened and offer a sweet and unique taste. Not related to pineapples, pineberries display a hint of pineapple scent.

Growers characterize the berry as tasting “very sweet,” like a strawberry-apricot blend with a dense, unique texture. Vance Whitaker, associate professor of horticulture, and his breeding team expect to give it a formal name during the middle of the season.

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