Katopé has planted its first commercial quantities of Ben Dor stonefruit varieties in South Africa’s Cape, following over three years of liaison with the Israeli breeding firm.
Katopé Fruit Exports now holds the exclusive rights to 38 Ben Dor varieties in South Africa, including Lamoon, anti-oxidant-rich plum Red Heart and red-fleshed apricot Violet.
“Many of these varieties are already being produced commercially in Israel for UK retailers,” Katopé’s Amelia Maltman told FPJ. “This deal with Seffi Ben Dor came about through close co-operation with our UK office, Malet UK, which markets significant volumes of Ben Dor fruits to Marks & Spencer during the Israeli stonefruit season.
“It was seen as mutually beneficial to be able to market commercially established varieties during both the southern and northern hemisphere seasons.”
The fruit has been planted in three main South African producing areas, namely Stellenbosch/Paarl, Klein Karoo (Worcester and Montagu) and the Koue Bokkeveld.
“By planting in several growing regions, we believe we can maximise the harvesting and shipping period for each variety and range - within five years we expect to have between 100 and 150 hectares planted,” said Maltman. “The advantages of the Ben Dor varieties are their superb taste compared to current varieties available at the same time.”
Katopé has chosen to focus on red-fleshed or red-skinned varieties with a high level of anti-oxidants, a line that will be called plumagranates; the Lamoon range of yellow plums; watermelon plums with a green skin and red flesh and highly aromatic flavours; and an early apricot range, including the red-fleshed Violet.
Trial fruit will be shipped to Katopé UK in November 2008, with the first commercial volumes set to come on stream in November 2009. “Our first commercial volumes will be small. It is difficult to quantify, but suffice to say it will be a critical mass,” added Maltman.
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