Industry Leadership
Over 34 years McGinnis Berry Crops Limited has evolved by leading the introduction of new and novel varieties of black, red, white and pink currants and gooseberries. From the first importation of Ben Lomond in 1977 the company has been very active in implementing a strategy to scout out the best North American material available, develop close relationships with the world's best and most active breeders and launch our own black currant breeding program focused on hybrids that are immune to White Pine Blister Rust, resistant to mildew, have high yields and outstanding fruit qualities.
In 1994 Canada brought in a quarantine system for preventing the introduction of gall mite and reversion disease from other parts of the world. Some of the varieties introduced from Europe were brought in before the quarantine was imposed and others were brought in through at least a three year quarantine and high cost to our company.
Now we are are totally focused on a few varieties that are of value to commercial growers, whether harvesting by hand or machine. Also, we no longer propagate gooseberry plants.
Here are a few lists of those varieties that we, McGinnis Berry Crops Limited, were first to introduce to North America: