Belgian cooperative BelOrta will launch a new apple variety named after HRH Kate Middleton’s sister in time for the next commercial season.
The Pippa apple, which is on trial at the moment, is described as smaller than Jonagold, heart-shaped and fully red.
BelOrta chief executive Filip Fontaine said: “If you put the Pippa apple on a shelf it looks different – by its looks it shows itself, which is why we chose it. It is also extremely tasty.”
The news comes as the BelOrta prepares to open the 2016 topfruit season, with picking conditions described as “excellent”.
Fontaine said recent hail in key producing regions in Belgium saw growers lose between five and 10 per cent of volumes, the equivalent of 150 hectares of apples and pears, but what they are harvesting is very good quality.
Growers are now hoping for cooler temperatures during next week to bring colour to the apples, he added.
“Our biggest problem is still the Russian ban – we don’t have that market anymore, and neither does anyone else in Europe. It’s a problem, especially for Belgian pears. Poland is giving us a hard time at the moment, lots of Polish apples are being sent to our clients,” he said.
“But there is good news in the growing markets in China and India, and we strongly believe that India might be able to eat pears as well as apples. We have hope for Brazil and the US, Canada is already open but there is work to be done.”
For a full analysis of the upcoming Belgian and Dutch topfruit seasons, see the next issue of FPJ, out 23 September.
