"New varieties not enough in apple market"

With a good amount of change now being seen in the tree fruit industry, Brandt’s Fruit Trees (BFT) featured some of the results of its close relationship with Associated International Group of Nurseries AIGN® last week at the Northwest Horticulture Expo as part of the Washington State Horticultural Association Annual Meeting in Kennewick.

According to Lynnell Brandt, BFT President, the connection to AIGN® directly links his company, and therefore the fruit grower, to new intellectual property and commercialization opportunities worldwide.

“It’s a whole new world in the industry,” Brandt says. “Access to new varieties is no longer enough. These days the real value for the grower lies in our ability to leverage as much knowledge and commercial opportunities as possible associated with new varieties.”

“Also very important is the ability to gain salable traction in terms of market acceptance, retail support and critical mass. The end result has to be an exciting eating experience every time for the consumer or the process has failed.”

Helping to provide that exciting eating experience for the consumer is a number of elements built into AIGN® starting with the depth of its global connections.
International Ties AIGN—Page 2
Truly a worldwide organization, it blends the diverse talents of progressive nurserymen, commercialization specialists and IP Managers in the major growing areas of the world.

“In this new age of variety management marketing programs, inventory and quality assurance may also mean the difference between success and failure of an intellectual property,” Brandt says.

“ AIGN® has positioned itself to be an innovator and leader in this new method of product introductions.”

Illustrating its international connections, BFT featured a number of selections at the EXPO including Sweetie™ PremA280 cv. which is a new apple variety from the Prevar™ program in New Zealand. The result of a cross between Braeburn and Royal Gala, it matures just before Royal Gala. Larger than Royal Gala, the fruit is bi-coloured and has an elongated shape with a very sweet rich taste.

Another was Fuji Supreme™ Brand CABp Fuji cv. which is a Fuji selection that was first discovered in Central Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. While retaining the fruit and storage qualities of the standard Fuji, it is characterized by its dark red colouring and bold stripe.

For more information:
Alan Taylor
Tel: 509-961-9186
proft@embarqmail.com