Production of red blushed QTee pear up to 600 tons

This is the second commercial year for the QTee Celina red blushed pear. This new variety is very similar to the South African Forelle, which is a commercial success for South African growers. The marketing for QTee is being carried out by Fruithandel Wouters and Fresh Fruit Service Europe BV. Achiel Ryckaert from Fresh Fruit Services: "Last year the volume was still small, but this year we estimate a harvest of 600 tons. Arrangements have been made with supermarket chains in each land to incorporate QTee into their stock."

Production in multiple countries

160,000 QTee trees have been planted in Belgium, "We expect an increase in production each year. Estimates for next year are already at 2,000 tons." The pear is being commercially grown in Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Slovakia and South Africa, "There is a lot of interest in South Africa. This is the earliest blushed pear with storage potential and is on the market before the Forelle. In general, the South African Forelle has good prices, and they are available from March through to the end of August. QTee's are then available after this: from August through February." On the marketing side Fresh Fruit Services will focus on England, the Scandinavian countries and Dubai, "We are seeing that demand is good in several different countries. QTee's taste great and just like Conference pears they can be eaten right from the tree."

Fresh Fruit Services Europe

Achiel Rijckaert is the owner of the fruit trading company Fresh Fruit Services Europe, which is located on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium. He is a second generation fruit grower and started working in the fruit trade sector in 1998 with a sales focus on English supermarkets. In 2004 a Polish branch was opened, together with the Hermanowicz family, for the Polish/UK/Benelux/Eastern Europe/Far East trade. www.ffs.com.pl

New apple varieties

Achiel Ryckaert is also a founding shareholder of the ABCz-group. This group was founded together with Boomkwekerij Carolus België en Boomkwekerij Grard Frankrijk (Tree Nursery in Belgium and France), a company dedicated to finding new, successful varieties of pears and apples, "Along with Celina QTee, which the ABCz-group owns the global rights to, and Fruithandel Wouters, several deals have been made regarding the introduction of new apple varieties. Recently published in the press is a deal regarding the launching of ABCz11 in Germany by the Krings Obstbau firm. ABCz11 is a very special apple: in addition to a very good taste and firmness, the apple has a shelf life of at least six weeks. This is an apple that can compete with the contemporary varieties that are grown in warmer regions in the world."

For more information:
Fresh Fruit Service Europe BV
Achiel Ryckaert
0032-486 89 5702
www.ffs.com.pl
www.qtee-pear.com