US (CA): New grape varieties from International Fruit Genetics
Developed by world-renowned breeder, Dr. David Cain, his new table grape varieties are capturing the world by surprise and with delight. With over 30 years of breeding experience, Dr. Cain has the experience and insight to develop varieties that benefit growers, retailers, and consumers. He carefully selects crosses to improve flavor, maximize shelf life, increase yields, and decrease labor and chemical inputs. Explained Dr. Cain: “We’ve searched the world over to find grapes that have desirable traits and have formed alliances with other grape breeding programs like the University of Arkansas to access breeding lines that have unique flavors, and disease and rain tolerance. We then carefully cross these plants to combine the desirable traits in their offspring.”
The result is an unmatched breadth of exciting flavors and shapes with a full spectrum of colors and timing of seedless grape varieties. IFG’s proprietary varieties have been licensed with growers around the world (see IFG website for a list of current licensees at www.internationalfruitgenetics.com). Ten new grape varieties are rapidly gaining global market share, and there is much more to come in the future as new cultivars are crossed and tested for commercial viability. Initial commercial production of the varieties will come from California, Brazil, Chile, Peru, South Africa, and Spain. For an idea of the scope of IFG’s offerings:
Sweet Celebration is a flavorful, large, red, round, seedless grape that has been planted in commercial quantities around the world, which will lead to almost year-round availability for retailers and consumers over the next few years as those vineyards come into production. IFG works with its licensees to develop farming and harvest practices that maximize the flavor. The results of these efforts have been overwhelming, with dramatic increases in turnover at retail because of consumer response to this highly flavorful grape variety.
Sweet Sunshine is just that: a taste of sun as you bite into this new, crunchy, white seedless, mid-season grape. Commercial production will increase substantially from California in 2012, with other regions of the world to follow in subsequent years.
Success with a new, jumbo-size, seeded black grape called Sweet Jubilee has growers and retailers around the globe asking for more.
Cotton Candy does, yes, taste just like cotton candy (aka candy floss in the U.K.) and “without the sticky fingers” as one happy taster exclaimed. Large commercial volumes are expected from California by 2013 from Grapery. It is the first in a series of highly-flavored and uniquely-shaped grapes that are being tested for commercial release.
IFG is a well-established company whose owners are experienced in the grape world. Jack Pandol is a grower as well as one of the owners of IFG and comes from a family rich in table grape history. His company, Grapery, is leading the commercial testing and promotion of the many varieties that IFG has to offer. Sunridge Nurseries, owned and operated by the Stoller family, is the most respected grapevine nursery in California. The partnership of the two with Dr. Cain’s knowledge assures success. IFG expects their varieties to go viral very quickly in the next few years. A grape is not simply a grape anymore.
For more information:
David Cain
International Fruit Genetics
dcain@internationalfruitgenetics.com
www.internationalfruitgenetics.com