Bayer Unveils New Strawberry Variety With Benefits For Producers, Retailers, and Consumers
- gillmcshane
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
Available to growers in the UK, Germany, and Benelux, the Baya Solara variety addresses pressing production challenges by combining high-yielding potential with disease resistance and labour efficiency.
Bayer said in a press release that the variety's launch represents a cornerstone of the company’s strategic expansion into the strawberry market, and follows Bayer's acquisition of the strawberry assets from UK-based NIAB in 2023.
It marks the first commercial strawberry variety from Bayer’s De Ruiter brand.
“Our new variety Baya Solara is an exciting June-bearing cultivar and delivers impressive productivity and strong resistance to diseases like Phytophthora cactorum without compromising fruit quality,” revealed Swanny Chouteau, Portfolio Lead for the Europe Middle East and Africa region at Bayer’s Crop Science division.
“With this launch, we are targeting Northern Europe’s rapidly growing protected cropping sector and offer growers new opportunities.”
Multiple Benefits From Grower To Consumer
Baya Solara is a strawberry that offers many benefits, pointed out VK Kishore, Head of Global Product Innovation for Vegetables at Bayer’s Crop Science division.
“For growers, it means a more productive and reliable harvest,” Kishore explained.
“For retailers, it delivers consistent, large, firm fruits with excellent shelf life, reducing waste and ensuring dependable quality. For families, it offers delicious strawberries that stay fresh longer, helping them reduce waste and enjoy every berry.”
Key Characteristics
Baya Solara produces large, uniform fruit, offering a “pleasant sweetness” with a balanced sugar-acid ratio, making it an attractive option for consumers.
The variety is designed to reduce post-harvest darkening and thereby satisfy the growing consumer and retail demand for high-quality strawberries, according to Bayer.
The early-mid season June-bearer variety is designed to show significant improvement against common diseases, including Phytophthora cactorum, a fungal disease that causes the strawberries’ crown to rot.
This genetic resistance is vital for ensuring the long-term viability of strawberry production, Bayer said.
Availability
Baya Solara will be available to growers in the UK, Germany and Benelux.
The June-bearer is the first one to be commercially launched since the NIAB acquisition.
It complements six other strawberry varieties. Those include: Malling™ Ace – a highly versatile and productive everbearer that has been increasingly favoured by growers and consumers, and Malling™ Centenary – a June-bearer market-leading variety, highly regarded for its stand-out fruit quality.