Yesterday marked the start of sales for Jona+ and Redlove apples and Sweet Sensation pears of the new season at the Belgian Fruit Auction in St-Truiden.
Jona+
Jona+ is the name of a selected group of three red Jonagold mutants. The quality injection of our bright red Jonagold, subjected to central sorting, strict quality requirements and a fresh, recognisable packaging, ensures that demand increases annually. Jona+ meets the principles of club strains (albeit without royalties), such as a superb quality, thanks to close monitoring during cultivation, harvest and storage and a uniform centralised sorting.
For the packaging, attention was paid to the image: a trendy, fresh look with a QR code referring the consumer to an informative website about Jona+: www.jonaplus.be. The recognisability of Jona+ is emphasised because each apple has a sticker. With this project, we want to continually supply a homogeneous product, both regarding look, flavour and presentation. On the one hand, we want to offer a high-quality product to the trade and consumers, and on the other hand, we want cultivators to be fairly compensated. These two aspects together should, in the end, create a sustainable surplus value for both parties.
Sweet Sensation
Sweet Sensation, the deliciously juicy, blushing pear, is also on the shelves again. This year, from 30 November, an international consumer competition has been associated with the pears. The fruit sticker, which can be found on each individual pear, refers to the website www.sweetsensation.eu/win. The sticker will also feature a code. If you log in on the website and activate the code, you will become eligible for a shopping weekend in one of the European shopping cities. The more codes you activate, the more chance of winning you will have.
Redlove
The Redlove — one of BFV’s new favourites — is a red-skinned apple that also has red flesh, and was recently developed in Switzerland. By now, 13,000 trees have been planted by BFV cultivators. This brings total potential to 250,000 kilograms. This season, estimated production is at 50,000 kilograms. BFV has put the apple in the spotlight because of the innovative possibilities for gastronomy and industry. The Redlove is a distinctive apple with rich aromas and a fresh sour-sweet flavour. It is a versatile apple, and can be used from appetiser and entrée to main course and dessert. Redlove is bright red from skin to flesh, it is a decorative and new element for autumnal and wintery menus. This apple is also innovative, because of its attractive red colour, as an appetiser drink or healthy apple juice.
The BFV is convinced that this culinary apple will soon conquer its place on the menus of top chefs. Moreover, these red apples contain 50 to 100 milligrams of anthocyanin per 100 grammes of fresh weight. This is 10 to 25 times more than in other apples. Anthocyanin, or colouring agents, mainly occur in red and blue fruits and vegetables, they have an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. Recipes can be found on www.redlove-apple.be.
Joly Red
The Joly Red apple is a fairly large, ruby red and very sweet apple. This crunchy newcomer was initially meant as a flavour experience for Mediterranean and Asian consumers who prefer sweet tastes. But various tasting rooms during promotional events in Belgium, brought to light that Belgian apple eaters also appreciate this sweet flavour. It is a welcome addition to the flavour pallete of our sour-sweet Jonagold and other apple strains. That is why BFV also wants to introduce the Joly Red to European audiences.
To meet the stringent quality requirements which are set for each of these strains, it is necessary to follow the fruit from flower to sorting. Estimates are made annually for quality and yield, so that the commercial team can optimally prepare for the sales of the fruits available.
During harvesting of Jona+, we strive for an optimum red colour, a hardness of 6.5kg/cm2, and, for the first time this year, a minimum sugar level of 13.5º brix. During sorting, we mostly pay attention to a homogeneous red colour and a minimum of skin and shape defects.
For Sweet Sensation pears we strive for a good red blush, a minimum of skin defects, a hardness of 5.0kg/cm2 and a sugar level of 13.5º Brix this season. This final aspect is absolutely no difficulty for this sweet pear.
The Redlove apple effortlessly meets the hardness standards of 6.5kg/cm2 and sugar standards of 14º Brix. Thanks to its high productivity and good quality yields, this apple could certainly be an acquisition in BFV’s apple gamut.
For more information:
Marc Evrard
Belgische Fruitveiling
Montenakenweg 82
3800 Sint-Truiden - Belgium
+32 11 69 34 11
www.bfv.be
Belgische Fruitveiling
Montenakenweg 82
3800 Sint-Truiden - Belgium
+32 11 69 34 11
www.bfv.be
