Jean MartinAn Australian ranch has broken the record for the planet’s most giant blueberry with a fruit the size of a ping-pong ball.
In a remarkable feat of nature, a blueberry weighing a whopping 20.4 grams has shattered the previous world record, previously held by a 16.2-gram berry grown in Western Australia.
Picked in November and stored in a freezer until recently, this monstrous berry is about 10 times the size of an average blueberry.
New Variety for Consumer Demands
The colossal berry belongs to a new variety developed by the Costa Group to meet consumer demands for larger berries.
Known as the Eterna breed, this variety consistently yields huge fruit, but recent growing conditions at a farm in Corindi, northern New South Wales, led to an exceptional bumper crop.
Shock and Excitement
Brad Hocking, the lead horticulturalist at the farm, expressed shock and excitement upon weighing the berries. While they had noticed some promising berries on the trees, the true magnitude of their find became apparent only when they put them on the scale.
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Mr. Hocking revealed that they had picked more than 20 berries that morning, each capable of breaking the previous world record.
Certified by Guinness World Records
After 12 weeks of anticipation, the berry was officially certified by Guinness World Records as the heaviest blueberry ever documented, marking a remarkable achievement for the growers.
The Taste of Victory
When asked about the taste of the record-breaking blueberry, Mr. Hocking laughed and admitted that he didn’t know.
Despite the temptation, his team decided to preserve the berry rather than consuming it immediately, opting instead to enjoy its smaller companions for breakfast.
Future Plans for the Berry
As for the fate of the world-record berry, the growers are considering various options. Suggestions include creating a resin cast and mounting it on the wall as a memento of their remarkable achievement.
Regardless of its ultimate fate, the record-breaking blueberry has left a lasting impression on the growers and serves as a testament to nature’s incredible capabilities.
