Guinness World Records has recognized a golf-ball-sized blueberry grown in Australia as the heaviest in the world.
The blueberry weighed in at 20.4 grams, or about 0.72 ounces, far more than the previous record holder, which was also grown in Australia and weighed 16.2 grams.
The record-breaking blueberry was grown by Costa Group horticulturists Brad Hocking, Jessica Scalzo and Marie-France Courtois in Corindi, New South Wales, on Nov. 13, 2023, according to Guinness.
The Eterna variety blueberry, known for being large and firm, is almost 70 times heavier than the average blueberry, according to Guinness.
“Eterna as a variety has a really great flavor and consistently large fruit. When we picked this one, there were probably around 20 other berries of a similar size,” Hocking told Guinness World Records.
“This really is a delightful piece of fruit. While the fruit is large, there’s absolutely no compromise on quality or flavor as would be expected when developing a premium variety blueberry,” he said.
The Costa Group operates a network of berry farms where they develop one to two new varieties of blueberry each year. They hope to breed varieties more tolerant against pests and disease, and more adaptable to hotter climates.
“I’m really proud to be able to celebrate with the team of passionate people we have here at the farm and recognize all the hard work that goes into producing these crops,” Hocking said.
Story via TMX