Judges at Sial were impressed with the launch of a new variety of branded stone fruit - the Nectavigne.

The fruit, a cross breeding between traditional vine peaches and more modern nectarine varieties, was highlighted by the Sial committee for its innovation. Judges said they were impressed with the product’s taste and blood-red flesh.

Three French companies, Sica/Sicodis, SAS les Vergers De L’Hermitage and Chanabel - Delfruit SAS, are producing the fruit as part of the Nectavigne Club.

It is then being marketed by Starfruits with the catch-line ‘the tradition and flavour of a great vintage’.

The fruit is currently only available from early August to mid September and is sold in 60x40 and 50x30 branded trays.

A spokesman for the club said the product had been developed over a seven-year period.

The fruit is described as being juicy, acidulated and very sweet with a strong flavour.

He said the club aims to encourage development of the fruit with regard to its production and quality standards and guarantee consumers are offered only the best possible quality of fruit.

The group also offer a merchandising tool kit for retailers selling the product, featuring point of sale materials and a consumer newsletter with recipe ideas.

He said they had been talking to a number of companies in the UK over possible exports and were aiming to increase production from around 500 tonnes now to 1,000t by 2007.

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