The Newest Blueberry From Florida Is One To Watch
November 4, 2020 
Say hello to ‘Sentinel’, the latest blueberry variety from the University of Florida.
Photo by Patricio Muñoz
The name Alto Straughn is synonymous with Florida blueberries. The longtime fruit grower is a true trailblazer in the field and a staunch supporter of research. He has a building named after him on the campus of his alma mater — the University of Florida — along with numerous other academic and industry-related accolades. Now, he has a blueberry variety named in his honor.
Straughn was top of mind when Patricio Muñoz, UF/IFAS Assistant Professor of blueberry breeding and genomics, developed ‘Sentinel’, the newest blueberry variety to come out of the institution’s small fruit breeding program.
“A ‘sentinel’ is a watcher or guardian,” Muñoz says. “It is symbolic. We came up with the idea to name the blueberry after Alto because he ‘watched and guarded’ the blueberry breeding program for many years.”
Local scientists first tested the new UF/IFAS variety on Straughn’s farm in Waldo, and later in fields stretching as far south as Arcadia. According to Muñoz, results indicate ‘Sentinel’ is best suited for commercial production in Central as well as parts of North Florida.
Attributes of ‘Sentinel’ as noted by Muñoz include:
- A higher-quality fruit than previous UF/IFAS cultivars, giving growers potential at the best market window.
- Superior taste. The variety was tested in multiple flavor panels at UF, and they rated ‘Sentinel’ “high.”
Blueberries remain a valuable specialty crop in the Sunshine State. Florida’s blueberry farmers produce about 10 to 12 million tons each year, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
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