Produce growers have gotten savvy when it comes to seeds. As in the kind that needs to be picked out of the fruit before eating it, or out of your teeth afterward. While it may only be a minor inconvenience, it’s a real turn-off to a lot of consumers, which is why you may have noticed an increasing number of “seedless” fruit varieties in the produce aisle. The newest entry is a gene-edited seedless blackberry from Pairwise that could lead to even more seed-free fruit options.
While the seeds in fresh fruit are harmless, they represent a real pain point that can be the deciding factor in whether a consumer chooses fresh fruit over something more convenient, like a bag of chips. According to Pairwise, 30% of berry buyers do not like seeds, meaning seedless varieties could entice a substantial number of new consumers.
Ryan Bartlett, Pairwise Chief Technology Officer, says the company’s scientists used CRISPR gene-editing technology to eliminate the hard pits in berry fruit. Instead, they have soft, small seeds like those found in grapes and watermelon that are commonly labeled as seedless. “The result is the first seedless blackberry in the world. We expect that this trait will not only transform the blackberry market, but it also lays the groundwork for accelerated progress in removing seeds and pits in many other fruits such as cherries.”
The new blackberry is also thornless and more compact than traditional varieties, making the fruit easier to harvest and the plants easier to maintain. Pairwise notes that changes to the physical traits of the blackberry bush had no impact on the flavor or quality of the fruit.
“The berry variety we edited is consistently sweet year-round and holds up well during shipment; now, consumers will have the option to choose a nutritious blackberry without seeds that also reliably delivers great flavor and quality,” said Haven Baker, Pairwise co-founder and chief business officer.
Early data from Pairwise’s trials indicates the potential for significantly higher yields per acre with only a minimal increase in inputs, the company said. Pairwise will now move into to field trials with its new seedless blackberries and aims to have them in grocery stores within “a few years.” Learn more about Pairwise HERE. (Sources: Produce Blue Book, Genetic Literacy Project)
