White but ripe, these strawberries are new varieties grown in Australia

Sweet, ripe strawberries are no longer exclusively red, as Australia introduces new commercial varieties of white and blush strawberries.

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We all like something new, especially, you know, strawberries are so well loved by kids.

These novel fruits, developed through years of research and crossbreeding, are now being grown on Australian farms. While they offer a unique visual appeal and a different taste profile, ranging from candy-sweet to hints of pineapple and vanilla, they are currently in very limited supply.

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If you've got something new and exciting to try, that's really exciting for them.

Growers like Toan Nguyen, who was inspired by white strawberries seen in Japan, are cultivating thousands of plants with Japanese genetics. He notes that customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many finding the white varieties even sweeter than their red counterparts. However, educating consumers has been key, as some initially mistook the white fruit for being under-ripe.

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The feedback has been amazing; some say it's actually sweeter than the red ones.

Similarly, TSL Family Farms is experiencing immense demand for its "Rose Pearl" variety, a cultivar developed in Florida. Co-owner Laura Wells reports that the fruit is selling out rapidly in the few stores where it's available. The "Rose Pearl" variety has also proven exceptionally hardy, showing minimal crop loss even during heavy rainfall, a significant advantage for commercial growers.

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We don't have enough to sell at our farm shop; we are sold out by lunchtime.