A pear, the Eden Gold, bred and developed in the harsh Israeli desert without shade or hail nets, is just one of the new stone and pome fruit hardy varieties producers around the world need to survive harsher climatic conditions.
This is according to Ido Ben Dor, from Israel’s Ben Dor Fruits and Nurseries: “We start harvesting Eden Gold pears in Israel this week, in Morocco in two weeks’ time as well as in the south of Italy and in France in a few weeks’ time. We have specific projects where Eden Gold pears performed well compared to other varieties that have low production and suffers from diseases that increases with the climatic events. It has very good quality despite not growing under any hail or shade nets for the sun.”
He says this year’s winter, just like the last three winters, were hot, not to mention another record year of sizzling summer heat so far. “The fruit is not getting the needed chilling hours and accumulation before mid- to- end of January. Then we have late cold frost as well as late winter rain in Israel, in other northern hemisphere territories, this shifting trend is similar. On my recent visits to production areas like Morocco and the South of Europe, they have a very low chill winter followed by a severe heat event. Right now it is 45 degrees Celsius in our farms in Israel for one week straight with the same in Spain, Italy and the south of France and North Africa.
"In Israel we know this hot weather. At some point we had 49 degrees Celsius for seven days in a row in some parts of our farms. It affects the quality and behaviour of fruit, therefore we can choose varieties that perform better. We are getting good sizes and brix while our trees are performing well under these conditions. Even today we expect 44 degrees Celsius. It also affects the irrigation plans because where there is a significant compensation of water despite the high cost in Israel. We continue breeding under these conditions, but also set breeding locations in almost the opposite climate where the temperatures are much colder in northern territories. We do specific evaluations in these hot conditions with semi-commercial blocks in warmer areas under different conditions,” explains Ben Dor.
The Eden Gold pears
Planted globally with retail programs
“We are expecting a good production season in Italy for the first young orchards planted in the past two years, in France and Spain as well. There is our first fruit in test blocks in California and Washington, while we expect to see the first plantation in South Africa with Top Fruit. We signed agreements for a strategic program in India, with the first trees planted this winter in nine different locations, from the Himalayas to the south of India’s warm areas. In China they should be getting plants this winter. In East Europe we have a plantation in Bulgaria where we expect good results. Eden Gold is also planted in Greece where it performed very well. We also have our first supply programs for Eden Gold pear with retailers. It is a yearly program, which was gained after good feedback from the customers,” says Ben Dor.
Open field days in Morocco, Italy and France
“We have open days in Morocco starting in August. Then we move to Puglia in Italy on 24-26 August, with another round of open field days in Italy’s Emelia Romagna at the start of September followed by France early in the same month.”
Ben Dor's plumegranate, which has dark red flesh, like a pomegranate, but with an antioxidant content that is three times higher.
Ben Dor says they have other heat and weather resistant varieties such as watermelon plums that are gaining popularity across Italy, France, Spain and Greece. “The aroma cots have very high brix with an intense aroma that has an intense and strong flavour. The new selections make the eating experience better. We also develop the range Red flesh nectarines to complete the early and very late season. In Morocco we see very good potential with reliable and good growers to join our club.”
For more information:
Ido Ben Dor
Ben Dor Fruits and Nurseries
Tel: +972-4-6931161
Email: info@bendorfruits.com
www.bendorfruits.com