A newly formed alliance of three citrus exporters in Valencia is starting work on production of the recently launched Australian Navel clone M7.

GCM Variedades Vegetales groups Vicente Finer, Cañamás Hermanos and Martinavarro and is linking up with CVVP, the Spanish club for protected plant varieties, to control licensing of plant material for M7.

GCMVV is in charge of licensing M7 in the northern hemisphere and expects to have some 1,500ha under production in Spain. Suitable production areas and marketing will all be strictly controlled.

M7 was bred in Australia in 2004 and is an extra-early Navelina type. In Spain it can be harvested at the beginning of October and its season should last four months. In terms of achieving the right colour, maturity and internal quality levels for the fresh market, it is ready for harvesting some three to four weeks ahead of Navelina. It also has very high brix levels - up to 2° above those of standard Navelina. Its juice content is similar and it has very firm skin as well as a completely rounded shape and small navel.

According to GCMVV, management of the variety will be strictly controlled right from the very beginning of the chain as growers will only be selected if their land enjoys the precise micro-climate required to produce optimum quality M7 fruit. Producers will also have to demonstrate they have adequate on-farm security as well as all relevant food and plant-health certifications.

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