UK importer Mack Multiples has begun selling and marketing a new variety of table grape which tastes of candy floss.
The Cotton Candy-branded fruit was developed in California by breeding company Grapery and is being supplied to customers in the UK exclusively through Mack.
Dr David Cain, a world-renowned grape breeding specialist and founder of International Fruit Genetics (IFG) in Delano, California, discovered Cotton Candy as part of extensive trials over several years.
Crossing parent material from IFG's own varieties with those obtained from the University of Arkansas as part of an exclusive deal, Cain and his team based Cotton Candy on the Lambrusca variety, coming up with a distinctive but extremely sweet flavour.
According to Jim Beagle, president of Grapery, development of the new variety drew much from the knowledge and expertise uncovered recently in the process of breeding grapes for wine.
'Our development work is focused totally on growing grapes for flavour,' he explained. 'Our Cotton Candy tastes truly unique, and is a very exciting variety for us.'
The group said it would be making a 'significant expansion' in its planted volumes over the next few years to ensure it could meet anticipated growing demand for its supply.
Regular fixture
Dan Crooks, commercial director for grapes at Mack Multiples, said he believed Cotton Candy to be a significant new development for the UK market.
'Table grape varieties are always in development, but finding something really special and different is rare,' he commented.
'We're looking for long-term innovation, not short-term novelty, and whilst this grape is undoubtedly going to cause a stir due to its very distinctive candy floss flavour, we hope it will ultimately become a regular fixture on shelf.'
Mack is now assessing its long-term plans to access the variety in greater volumes, a move which would potentially see it sourcing the fruit from other partners around the world.
Along with the first Cotton Candy shipment, Grapery has included samples of other innovations in the grape category which they are looking to increase to commercial production levels.
Among them, and causing some excitement for those at Mack, is a new grape variety referred to as Witches' Fingers, which has an eye-catching berry shape.
'Mack Multiples will be following the progress of all these innovations closely for our customers, testing demand with our customers and bringing these varieties through to retail shelves in more exclusive supply agreements from this fruitful Californian relationship,' a spokesperson for Mack added.
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