Plant & Food Research alongside Summerfruit NZ have been testing and crossbreeding three new varieties of apricots, specifically for New Zealand orchards. According to principal scientist Jill Stanley, ‘the big difference is that they have high sweetness’.
Ardgour Valley Orchards near Cromwell is growing 20 hectares of the new crops. Director Sharon Kirk: "The New Zealand apricot market has been shrinking internationally since the 1990s. That's why Plant and Food Research and Summerfruits New Zealand kicked into gear to breed these new apricots – to breed something that we could take to the world that's uniquely ours."
She said the new fruit has received good feedback locally. Kirk is growing around 20 hectares of the new crop, with some available in supermarkets now. The other varieties will be ready for export early next year.
Source: 1news.co.nz