- Cornell University’s AgriTech berry breeding program has launched two new red raspberry varieties, Crimson Beauty and Crimson Blush, developed from seeds created in 2016 and evaluated in 2017.
- Crimson Beauty features a large, glossy red fruit with a strong flavour and ripens from late summer to early fall, designed for cultivation in high tunnels to reduce rain exposure and waste.
- In contrast, Crimson Blush ripens from September to November, characterized by its blush pink to bright red color and produces large, sweet berries on vigorous canes; it can also be grown in tunnels.
- Cornell is collaborating with PhyllaTech, L.L.C., and North American Plants for commercial propagation, while Gurney’s Seed and Nursery Co. will make Crimson Blush available to retail markets, with support from the New York State Berry Growers Association and the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Ivy League land-grant research university based in New York Cornell University’s AgriTech berry breeding program has announced the release of two exciting new red raspberry varieties: Crimson Beauty and Crimson Blush.
The seeds for these varieties were developed in 2016, with initial plant growth and selection for further evaluation taking place in 2017.
Crimson Beauty is a large, bright, glossy red raspberry known for its strong flavour with tropical overtones. It bears fruit from late summer to early fall.
Professor Courtney Weber, head of the berry breeding program at Cornell AgriTech and a member of the School of Integrative Plant Science Horticulture Section in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, aimed to fill the gap between late July, when summer raspberries finish harvesting, and the onset of ripening for fall varieties in August.
This variety is designed for cultivation in high tunnels, a common practice in the raspberry industry that minimises rain exposure, waste, and rotting.
In contrast, Crimson Blush was developed using a traditional open field system but can also thrive in tunnels to extend the fall season. This variety ripens later in the year, from September to November, and its name reflects its blush pink to light bright red colour. It yields large, sweet, and juicy berries on vigorous canes and is known for its heavy production.
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Cornell is partnering with two commercial entities—PhyllaTech, L.L.C. in North Carolina and North American Plants in Oregon—that hold licences to propagate these varieties.
These partners will have plants available for commercial growers to order in advance for the upcoming spring planting season. Additionally, Gurney’s Seed and Nursery Co., part of the Gardens Alive! company, will offer Crimson Blush to the retail market and homeowners.
The development of these new raspberry varieties was made possible through collaboration with the New York State Berry Growers Association, with support from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets for the Cornell AgriTech berry breeding program.
