Spain: Soloberry can now market the new berry Haskap
Soloberry, the Spanish subsidiary of the British CPM Retail, has obtained permission from EFSA to market the berries Haskap.
The company has been waiting since the end of 2015 to include this berry in the Novel Food legislation, since it was a new produce on the EU market.
Haskap is the Japanese name for Lonicera caerulea and it is the “brand name” being used in North America to differentiate the newer varieties of edible blue honeysuckled. Cultivated for more than 25 years in the island of Hokkaido, it is an oblong blue berry and its taste is a mixture between cranberry, blackberry and raspberry. In addition, it has antioxidant levels superior to cranberry. The shrub adapts to northern climates such as the UK, Poland and Germany where, apart from Spain, it already has growing partners.
Soloberry is specialized in the cultivation of strawberry, raspberry, blueberry and blackberry, which are grown in its 350 hectares in Huelva and Morocco. In 2017, it invoiced near €50 million.
Source: Alimerket