China: excellence through varietal innovation

Shennong Variety Management (SVM) is pleased to announce that Joy Wing Mau, of Shenzhen, China, has acquired a minority share interest in the company. SVM has been introducing new fruit and berry cultivars into China since 2007, and tests for performance under Chinese growing conditions. The company is about to launch one pear and two new apple varietals.

The company is also helping Chinese breeding programs monetize their fruit varieties in the rest of the world. They are a Chinese member of the Associated International Group of Nurseries (AIGN).

Left to Right: Jerome Chen, Patrick Ballew, Julie Greene, Rex Graham, Liu Mau Wah, John Morton, and Lewis Dagger

Rex Graham, the Chair of SVM’s Board of Directors, said, “SVM is really excited about Joy Wing Mau’s involvement with SVM. Joy Wing Mau is one of the largest produce distributors in China and we see huge new opportunities in China for all of SVM’s proprietary fruit and berry varieties. SVM’s relationship with Joy Wing Mau creates a link between the intellectual property management of new fruit varieties and the produce distribution that is essential for the commercial success of SVM’s fruit varieties in China.”

Liu Mau Wah, Chairman of the Board of Joy Wing Mau, said, “Since 1998, the key to our success has been the delivery of high quality fruit to our customers. Our company motto is ‘Better Fruit, Better Life.’ As Joy Wing Mau moves into the future, I believe that we must have access to new and better varieties to continue to honor our company motto. Our connection with SVM and AIGN gives us that access. We can now bring into China the best and most competitive fruit varieties in the world, both today and for the future.”

www.shennong.co.nz