Southland yield is less than Heritage, especially in the first season. Bred at East Malling, U.K., 1974. Autumn Bliss produces an early autumn crop starting before and finishing after Southland. Canes are numerous, moderately strong, upright and spiny. Only minimal cane support is required.
Fruit is large, sometimes hard to remove by hand, medium red in colour and of mild flavour.
Fruit is not as firm as Heritage or Southland. This will often result in crumbly fruit, where small pieces of fruit detach from the remainder. Varieties better suited to New Zealand conditions and market opportunities are required. Autumn Bliss was used as a parent for crosses, to produce new autumn fruiting material, until RBDV susceptibillity was identified. Most of the resulting seedlings are showing RBDV susceptibility.