Thornless semi-erect plant with large, firm, dark fruit that ripen early for this type. Origin: USDA-ARS, Corvallis, OR, by C.E. Finn, B.C. Strik, B.M. Yorgey, M.E. Peterson, P.A. Jones, J. Lee, and R.R. Martin. Ouachita × ORUS 2867-4; crossed 2009; selected 2012; tested as ORUS 4370-1; introd. 2019. USPP 30,879; 10 Sept. 2019. Tree: vigorous; growth habit semi-erect; crown forming; thornless with the Merton Thornless source of thornlessness; high yield (10.0 kg/plant); less susceptible to UV and heat damage than Chester Thornless. Susceptible to red berry mite (Acalitus essigi); cold hardiness very good, has shown no injury despite temperatures below-20 oC in some winters. Fruit: large, 8.7 g; blocky-conical; fairly uniformly sized, shaped and arranged drupelets, better than Chester Thornless; excellent drupelet fertility; attractively shaped; bright, glossy black; flavor excellent, sweet 13.2 ºBrix; pH 3.5; low titratable acidity, 8.5 g·L-1 as citric acid; texture comparable to Triple Crown; very firm with drupelet skin that is resistant to tearing, similar or better than Chester Thornless; fruit store very well with low levels of drupelet reversion; ripens after Eclipse and Galaxy, before Triple Crown and well before Chester Thornless.
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