At last week’s Fruit Attraction exhibition in Madrid, French exporter Blue Whale announced the launch of Candine, a new bright red apple, the result of a cross between the Ariane and Fuji varieties.
Developed by French breeder Agro Séléctions Fruits, Candine will be marketed by Blue Whale in France and by Apofruit in Italy.
Blue Whale president Christophe Belloc revealed that the company would reach a production volume of 600 tonnes by 2020, with plans to plant around 150ha of Candine over the next five years.
“We believe in Candine,” said Belloc. “We believe in its bright red colour, its juicy taste, its resistance to spotting. We want to develop this variety on all our markets.”
According to Belloc, Candine has received excellent feedback from consumers, with 95 per cent of those polled liking the look of Candine, 90 per cent enjoying its sweet taste, and 80 per cent expressing an intention to buy.
