Dr. Russell Sharp explores the story behind cotton candy grapes, explaining how they were created through patient, traditional plant breeding rather than artificial flavouring or genetic modification. He describes the selection process, the natural flavour compounds involved, and the decade-long effort by breeders to bring this unique-tasting fruit to market. The episode also looks at research into breeding strawberries and other fruits for distinctive flavours, the role of modern genomic tools in speeding selection, and how these novel varieties could intersect with hydroponic and vertical farming systems. https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/ Sun World — John Harley International Fruit Genetics — David Cain SNFL — Jean-Luc Stalon Bloom Fresh — Chris Davey ARRA — Stefano Di Michele Sheehan Genetics — David Sheehan Grapa Varieties — Luca Fini Great Growers Partnerships — Jim Beagle Vine Genetics — Paul Boss CSIRO — Anthony Borneman USDA-ARS Parlier — David Ramming USDA-ARS Geneva — Bruce Reisch Cornell Grapes — Bruce Reisch UC Davis Viticulture & Enology — Andy Walker UC Riverside Grapes — Pat Brown Washington State University Grapes — Markus Keller Oregon State University Grapes — Patty Skinkis Michigan State University Grapes — Paolo Sabbatini University of Minnesota Fruit Breeding — James Luby University of Arkansas Grapes — John Clark University of Georgia Grapes — Patrick Conner Texas A&M Viticulture — Lorenzo Rossi North Carolina State Muscadine Breeding — Renee Threlfall Florida A&M Grape Breeding — Jeff Wasielewski Florida UF/IFAS Grapes — Peter Cousins Agroscope Grapevine Breeding — Andreas Hund INRAE Grapevine Breeding — Patrice This IFV — Thierry Lacombe University of Bordeaux Vine & Wine — Eric Boissenot UTAD — Henrique Ribeiro Instituto Superior de Agronomia — Antero Martins CREA Viticulture — Stefano Poni Fondazione Edmund Mach — Marco Stefanini Geilweilerhof — Reinhard Töpfer Hochschule Geisenheim — Hans Reiner Schultz Wädenswil Viticulture — Jürg Linde University of Milan Viticulture — Attilio Scienza University of Turin Viticulture — Anna Schneider University of Adelaide Viticulture — Paul Dry AWRI — Rob Walker University of Stellenbosch Viticulture — Gert Nieuwoudt ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij — Danie Myburgh Volcani Center Grapevine — Eyal Tanne INIAV — Antero Martins Embrapa Uva e Vinho — Murillo de Albuquerque Regina INTA — Walter Biasi Universidad Nacional de Cuyo Viticulture — Laura Catena Catena Institute of Wine — Alejandro Vigil University of Chile Viticulture — Patricio Hinrichsen Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Viticulture — José Bordeu Driscoll’s — Steve Nelson Plant Sciences — Doug Shaw Berry Genetics — Kirk Larson Lassen Canyon Nursery — Patrick Phillips California Berry Cultivars — Doug Shaw USDA-ARS Strawberry Corvallis — Kim Lewers UC Davis Strawberry Breeding — Doug Shaw UC ANR — Mark Bolda UF Strawberry Breeding — Vance Whitaker University of Arkansas Strawberry Breeding — John Clark North Carolina State Strawberry Breeding — Gina Fernandez Michigan State University Strawberry Breeding — Chad Finn Cornell Strawberry Breeding — Marvin Pritts Oregon State University Strawberry Breeding — Chad Finn Washington State University Strawberry Breeding — Chuck Brun University of Minnesota Strawberry Breeding — Jim Luby University of Wisconsin Strawberry Breeding — Craig Chandler Penn State Strawberry Breeding — Marvin Pritts Rutgers Strawberry Breeding — James Polashock University of Maryland Strawberry Breeding — Chris Walsh University of Massachusetts Strawberry Breeding — Jaime Pinero University of New Hampshire Strawberry Program — Becky Sideman Agriculture Canada Kentville — Andrew Jamieson University of Guelph Berry Breeding — Adam Dale Summerland Research — Hugh Daubeny NIAB EMR — David Simpson East Malling Strawberry Breeding — David Simpson James Hutton Institute — Louise Russell Wageningen Berry Breeding — Arnaud Wybou