South African fruit breeder re:inc is carrying out panel tests on a dozen new apple varieties in the hope of finding the next big thing.
Re:inc met with colleagues and customers at Interpoma in South Tyrol this week, asking them for feedback on 12 new numbered apples that are in contention to be brought to market.
The range included varieties from breeders such as Kate Evans at Washington State University and Gerd Sundermeyer from Germany. Among the selection were pink and red-fleshed options, with re:inc director Riaan van Wyk stating that “the race is on” to find a good-eating red-fleshed variety.
The ultimate aim, he added, was to find the holy grail of a disease-resistant variety that also tastes great. “We are breeding with these resistant apples to find a good-looking and eating apple,” he explained. “Disease resistance is important but it’s not a given – disease-resistant apples tend only to be of average eating quality. Marker-assisted breeding will help the selection process. We are getting closer.”
Consumers today demand fruit that is produced in an environmentally sensitive way with fewer chemicals, van Wyk said, but they are also looking for something different, making producing something genuinely new for the market a challenge.
As for the wider apple market, van Wyk – who rejected suggestions there are too many new varieties coming through – predicted that clubs would come to dominate as breeders and growers need to cover their costs and justify their investment. “Club varieties, where there are royalties available, will become the norm and the rest will disappear,” he opined. “Big growers resisted it at first but that’s been overcome by the good [financial] returns.”
Van Wyk also described the pear sector as “neglected”, but said the next stage of development will be towards crispy, juicy and flavourful fruit that can be picked up and eaten by the consumer.
