Dutch fresh produce company Fruitmasters has revealed it is investigating the possibility of establishing the apple variety Elstar as a club variety.
According to the Agrarisch Dagblad, the suggestion from Fruitmasters director Rian Verwoert came in response to a report published by Dutch consultancy Berenschot, which put forward a number of potential supply models that might lift the fresh produce trade 'out of the doldrums'.
Jorrit Dekkers of leading Dutch bank Rabobank, meanwhile, said other categories apart from apples could benefit from adopting the club model, which involves producers and marketers cooperating to protect a variety and maximise its sales potential.
