Finesse

Parentage
Finesse (formerly EMR346) was bred at East Malling Research and first selected in 2003 from the cross EM1117 x Everest.

Fruit Quality
Attractive, uniformly heart shaped glossy berries with recessed seeds, waxy skin and a good fresh-looking calyx. The bright red/orange colour of the berries is retained well post harvest. Skin strength and shelf life are both good. The flavour has a good balance of sweetness and acidity and the berries are juicy with a smooth texture.

Marketing Suitability
Finesse fruit is suited to most market outlets. At tasting sessions the flavour has been well received and described as having a ‘good sweetness with a delightfully juicy June-bearer texture’, ‘a classic strawberry colour and shape, with a pleasing aroma and taste’, ‘exceptional quality for an everbearing variety’. Finesse is listed by both Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

Plant Characteristics
Finesse is a leafy, lush, vigorous plant with a spreading habit. Fruit is produced on long trusses resulting in a good fruit display and easy, quick harvest. Very few runners are produced during the fruiting season.

Disease Resistance
Finesse is particularly noted for its resistance to Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae) and crown rot (Phytophthora cactorum) as displayed in both EMR and commercial grower trials. Plants are also moderately resistant to powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis).

Use of the Variety

Finesse can be grown in both substrate and soil growing systems. The lack of runners reduces husbandry inputs and the very good fruit display allows for a quick, easy harvest throughout the season. It has an advantage over many everbearer varieties due its very good disease resistance, allowing the variety to be planted in a wide range of situations without risk of plant losses occurring.