Proceedings 31St Meeting

Proceedings 31st Meeting

13. - 15.03.2017, Bonn, Germany

Apples – Production of Club Quality

Tony Fissette, Enzafruit New Zealand (Continent) NV, Sint Truiden

Federal Office for Agriculture and Food Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE)

President: Dr. Hanns-Christoph Eiden

Deichmanns Aue 29 53179 Bonn, Germany

Telephone: ++49 (0)228 6845 - 0 Fax: ++49 (0)30 1810 6845 - 3444 E-mail: [email protected]

Editorial Dr. Ulrike Bickelmann, Division 223, BLE Telephone: ++49 (0)228 6845 - 3357 E-mail: [email protected]

Date of issue

July 2018

General info T&G Global have always been the leader when it comes to introducing new varieties. Enzafruit New Zealand (Continent) NV is based In the late 70’s most preferred apple varieties in Belgium and is 100 % owned by T&G founded were Cox Orange, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, in New Zealand in 1897. T&G has a worldwide Golden Delicious, Sturmer Pippin and for network of offices (New Zealand, Australia, the pears Packham’s. In the 1990’s Enzafruit North America, South America, Asia, U.K. and New Zealand successfully introduced the Europe), has a distinguished history and is new varieties Royal Gala® and Braeburn on now recognized around the world as a leading the market becoming the most popular apple distributor, marketer, grower and exporter of varieties together with Cox, Fuji, Pacific-types premium fresh produce (such as apples, pears, and Pink Lady®. Doyenné du Comice was the tomatoes, kiwifruit, grapes, cherries, stonefruit, most popular pear variety in the 1990’s. Now in citrus, asparagus). 2017 we see that Royal Gala® and Braeburn are still popular varieties however losing market The main brands of T&G are Enza™ (apples/ share to club varieties such as Jazz™, Envy™ pears), Jazz™ (apples) and Envy™ (apples). and Pink Lady®. Club varieties are gaining market share which T&G has 32 sales and production operations results into increasing plantings for the future. globally, 1,380 employees and 2,000 seasonal There are currently a lot of club varieties (over employees. It is the largest corporate 40) in Europe so the question for the future horticulture investor in New Zealand and will be which ones will exactly survive and largest grower of new apple varieties, citrus make it as a success. T&G has worldwide the and hothouse tomatoes. Further T&G owns the exclusive license of the varieties Jazz™, Envy™ largest network of fresh produce markets in and Pacific Rose™ and keeps investing in Plant New Zealand, facilitating more than 200 million Variety Rights (PVR) innovation as new varieties kilogrammes of fresh fruit and vegetables every are very important for the future. day. The company is one of New Zealand’s largest operators of fruit coolstores and Club variety Jazz™ packhouses. Essentially, there are 7 phases to the T&G quality development of a new variety.: When it comes to quality, T&G New Zealand • For Jazz™, phase 1 (= Setting Objectives) has always been a leader. Health and safety is began in 1984. Market research played our top priority. This goes from the orchard an important part in setting selection to the consumer and guarantees 24h-full objectives for the Plant & Food Research traceability. Furthermore T&G gives technical programme. Consumer preferences, buyer support to its growers and is in full compliance reaction and market opportunities were with all required packhouse certifications. We studied in collaboration with Enzafruit. have country specific protocols (including all • In phase 2 (hybridization), the parents were MRL compliances of course), qualified quality selected: Royal Gala® and Braeburn as inspectors and we are leader when it comes to they represented the best combinations innovations. of texture, flavour and market value at the time. The pollen from one parent was T&G Pipfruit placed onto the stigma of the flower of the other parent. T&G operates 920 hectares (2,270 acres) of • In phase 3, the selection phase, Jazz™ (as orchard within New Zealand and is still with its sister Envy™) was selected from a growing. T&G own orchards are large growers family of 8,500 seedlings. of our own proprietary varieties Jazz™ and Envy™ and also with major plantings of Royal • In phase 4, the evaluation of the production Gala®, Braeburn, Fuji, Kiku™, Pacific Queen™ potential: 2 trees in each of 3 research and Pacific Rose™. T&G/Enzafruit New Zealand orchards in different locations across New

Zealand were checked for their capacity of growth and production. • Phase 5 was the evaluation of the commercial potential. Jazz™ showed such early potential it was fast tracked. • In 1995 trial plantings (phase 6) were started in commercial orchards.

The phase 7 followed quick with first commercial plantings.

In 2000 Enzafruit decided to go for it!

Grown with passion in sun-drenched orchards, enjoy the crunchy tangy-sweet, juicy invigoration only Jazz™ apples can deliver. The collision of delightful flavours is the result of natural breeding between the Royal Gala® and Braeburn varieties. This is an apple that is a true taste sensation! Originating in the beautiful orchards of New Zealand, Jazz™ is now also grown in premium apple growing countries in the UK, Europe, USA, Chile, South Africa and Australia through a quality controlled Enza™ growing programme. Jazz™ apples are sustainably grown under strict Enza™ Quality Controlled conditions to ensure they are safe to eat, store well and taste delicious!

The Jazz™ growing regions and growers are carefully selected. It is important to select the right countries with the right growing regions and right growers allowing the variety to be successful for both T&G and the growers. Before planting any tree, we set up a growing plan taking several key points into account. When the test phase proves to be successful, we select the best growers and business network and an individual contract between the grower and T&G is signed.