GoKawiilShoppers in select Sprouts Farmers Markets stores in California earlier this year might have thought the Pink Cosmo blueberries were the work of a shrewd marketer who saw an opportunity for yet another Barbie-themed product.
Shoppers in select Sprouts Farmers Markets stores in California earlier this year might have thought the Pink Cosmo blueberries were the work of a shrewd marketer who saw an opportunity for yet another Barbie-themed product.
No, it was just serendipity that the not-blue blueberry, which has been in development for about 10 years, made its retail debut at the same time the Barbie movie case was sweeping the nation. The Pink Cosmo, a naturally occurring phenomenon due to a dominant recessive gene for pigment, will be available for licensing by California Berry Genetics, Selma, California and is being grown by G&M Farms; both are owned by Greg Willems. The University of Georgia’s breeding program develops the berries Willems brings to market. UGA professor emeritus Scott NeSmith has developed the berries for California Berry Genetics.
This year was a trial production year, with limited quantities going to select G&M customers, along with some samples that went to accounts in the Pacific Rim. Willems said the company expects to have “marketable” volumes next season, although supplies will still be limited to California and a few export markets.
Pink Cosmo has a long picking window for a blueberry, from around July 4 to Aug. 20.
“They ripen over a long period of time, which is nice; I don’t have to have a big crew to pick them,” Willems said. “We’re kind of glad for it to ripen longer, so we can offer it to our customers for a longer period of time.”
California Berry Genetics has been “getting hammered” with interest following the Pink Cosmo introduction.
“It’s been explosive,” Willems said. “People are really interested in this. This is something new, and obviously berries are the hot thing, with antioxidants and snacking. We believe it will be a hit. I took them home and different people came around and said ‘Wow!’”
The pink berries taste similar to a sweet white nectarine and aren’t acidic, he said.
Coming next year: Monica
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