From Courtney Weber’s breeding program at Cornell. Information from their trials indicates “NY02-56 produces large, firm fruit that ripen in the late mid-season starting at the end of the Jewel season and continuing for 10 days after Jewel. The fruit has a short conic shape and produces multiple fruiting laterals. The fruit ripens to a good sweet flavor with a bright red skin color and red interior. Productivity has been very good in trials exceeding Jewel and Winona, with larger average fruit size. In trials in Ontario, NY02-56 showed good hytophthora root rot resistance in replant sites and good vigor through renovation.”

A UC-Davis release, Fronteras is looked as a potential replacement for Chandler with overall good disease resistance. Per the variety release information, “Fronteras is moderately or highly resistant to Verticillium, Fusarium, and Phytophthora cactorum”. Preliminary trials indicate that Fronteras has moderate resistance to anthracnose. The large, vigorous plants product large, firm, attractive fruit.

A Dr. Harry Swartz release from the Five Aces breeding program, Black Jack is a floricane/summer bearing variety. Canes are thornless and semi-erect. In a grower trial in Maryland, ripens 10 days ahead of Chester. Compared with Chester, flower trusses are born singularly versus in a tight bunch making pest control and harvest easier.