During the first week of April, temperatures in the main Greek strawberry regions were slightly below average. However, the abundant sunshine and the increasing length of the days have contributed to consistent ripening and good fruit quality, especially for the dominant variety in Greece, Victory, which, from the third week of March until the end of the season, typically enters its most productive phase.

“It’s worth noting that overall production levels in early April are shaped not only by the current weather conditions but also by the flowering dynamics earlier in the season. Due to colder-than-usual temperatures in December and January, the first bloom was somewhat reduced, and this is now reflected in the volumes being harvested. Still, growers are seeing stable production and excellent fruit quality, and yields are gradually increasing as the plants enter their peak phase. At the moment, most Victory growers report yields in the range of 25-30 tons per hectare, and expectations remain positive for the coming weeks as conditions continue to improve,” says Mrs. Anna Ramioti, from the Greek team of El Pinar.

Mrs. Ramioti also adds: “The plants are currently showing excellent vegetative development and are fully capable of meeting the high market demand expected throughout April. In fact, we are confident that Victory will not only cover current needs but also compensate for the slight delay in early yields caused by winter conditions.”

According to data provided by El Pinar, this season the Victory variety was planted across approximately 1.500 hectares in the main strawberry-producing regions of Ilia and Achaia. This is well over half of the total Greek strawberry acreage. “Feedback from growers this season has been overwhelmingly positive. As a result, many producers have already confirmed their intention to increase their Victory orders for the next season, both bare root and tray plants. We’re also seeing a shift from growers who had previously worked with other varieties and are now turning to Victory as a more reliable and profitable option,” stresses Mr. Vasilis Athanasopoulos, also a member of the El Pinar team in Greece.

El Pinar has more to offer Greek growers. “We are currently working on several fronts to offer new varietal alternatives that bring value to Greek growers. In parallel, we are evaluating a new advanced selection currently identified as BG061. This material is still in the final stages of development, but early results are very encouraging. We expect to announce its commercial name soon and look forward to introducing it more broadly in the coming seasons,” Mr. Athanasopoulos concludes.

For more information:
Anna Ramioti & Vasilis Athanasopoulos
El Pinar
Email: [email protected] & [email protected]