A new variety of South African grown seedless red table grapes will be launched during this year’s Fruit Logistica, which started today in Berlin, Germany.
The variety is named Joybells 2018, and was cultivated by Phyllis Burger, a senior researcher at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), in partnership with the South African Table Grape Industry (Sati) and Culdevco.
Joybells are one of five new varieties released by Sati and Culdevco, and have seen the most success for commercial release.
Burger told Engineering News that over the past decade, the ARC, together with industry, have started to invest more in seedless breeding programs. Prior to this, South Africa relied heavily on importing such grapes.
Sati CEO, Willem Bestbier said that the global table grape industry is “spoilt for choice.” But that in his experience locally evaluated breeding programmes often perform better than imported ones with reduced risks.
“Nothing beats a home-bred success that has all the local breeding objectives focusing on our own reality like soil, climate, [and] the market.”
Joybells are on display at the South African National Pavilion at the Fruit Logistica Trade Fare from 7 to 9 February.
