“Reaching more markets with QTee”

QTee is areal newcomer in the pear world. It was introduced on the Belgian market twoyears ago. The first serious numbers were planted last year, which will enter productionin the next few years. Kris Wouters of Fruithandel Wouters has highexpectations of QTee. “With this variety, we can reach more markets than withConference.”

Fruitgrower and trader Kris Wouters and partner ABCz-Groep each have 50% of theshares in the worldwide licence for the Celina variety. “We are allowed to growthe pear anywhere in the world, except in Norway, where the variety originates.”The researchers sent the successful crossbreed to Belgium and South Africayears ago. In Belgium, a few trees were planted in the testing grounds. Theresults were so good that a first step was made toward professionalcultivation. Kris has also planted ten hectares. Last year, another 100,000 treeswere planted. They will only enter full production in two years, but the 40tonnes harvested last year will be far exceeded.

South Africa
The pear has seenequal success in South Africa. The variety has a lot of similarities to theForelle pear, which is grown in South Africa a lot. “Celina is harvestedearlier though, which means we can enter the market with QTee when Forelle isnot yet available. A contract has been signed for 300 hectares for the next tenyear. 35 hectares of those have already been planted, and soon another 35hectares will be added.” QTee is harvested early January in South Africa, andthe pear can be sold in Europe early February.

Why QTee?
A pear withsimilarities to Forelle is more than welcome, Kris thinks. “We had been lookingfor such a variety for years, because they’re always sold expensively. GrowingForelle isn’t possible in Europe, but a similar variety can be grown here. Sowe’re hoping for similar pricing with QTee.” QTee can be harvested two totwo-and-a-half weeks earlier than the Conference. The production, flavour andlook are similar to Conference. QTee can also be eaten both hard and soft. “QTeehas colour, doesn’t have a rough skin and tastes even better than Forelle. Sowe’re going to introduce QTee to as many markets as possible.”

Markets
Blushed pears don’t sell that well in Belgium and the Netherlands. But in the UnitedKingdom, Germany, Russia and Scandinavia, such pears are sold a lot.According to Kris, these are the most interesting markets for the coming years.He expects demand for blushed pears to increase in Belgium as well in the nearfuture. The first QTee volumes were well received there.

Club variety
In future, QTeewill become a so-called club variety. Growers who plant this pear are to sign acontract, agreeing with the licence holders’ conditions. Kris doesn’t excludethe possibility of an additional partner in the future, but for now thepartners, Fruithandel Wouters and Fresh Fruit Service Europe (part ofABCz-Groep) will retain full control. “We want to realize a price for the growersthat's as good as possible, but that’s only possible when you have as muchcontrol as possible over the cultivation.”