Lovita®, the heart-shaped red-fleshed plum selected by fruit variety editor French Fruit Lovers, is back on the European market this week thanks to the South-African producer RuBisCo (Pty) Ltd. It is distributed by Apifood, Boyer SAS and Vergers Cancel.
Like the French season, the South African campaign is looking very promising. “We are very satisfied with the previous French campaign, even if it was a little shorter than expected. Sales were very dynamic, from September to mid-October. While waiting for the 2022 French Lovita® campaign to start, we will offer the South-African origin to our customers. The campaign is starting very well because the production has been great so far,” explains Monika Kujundzic, communication manager for Lovita®.
“With the South African origin, we can offer our clients a very tasty fruit with a good caliber, at a very crucial moment in terms of marketing. Stone fruits are not really present on the shelves yet. With the end of the winter and a rather austere global context, consumers need to keep their spirits up and take some vitamins in,” explains Niels Saglibene, sales manager for summer fruit at Boyer SAS.
South African producers can grow a Lovita® plum that is identical to the French one in terms of taste, sugar and aromas. “The calibers are also very nice this year. We have been working together for several years to make sure the producers are in line with our quality requirements. In South Africa, a country that exports a lot, the fruits tend to be harvested earlier in order to optimize their shelf life. In order to harvest as late as possible while guaranteeing optimal quality and a good shelf life, we have had extensive discussions with the producers about cultivation techniques,” explains Monika Kujundzic.
The Lovita® will meet professionals as well as European and international partners at Fruit Logistica in Berlin on April 5th-7th, at the booth of its partner Pépinières Escande (Booth D13). The previous editions were marked by the warm welcome given to Lovita® by the various actors present at the fair. It will also be an opportunity for French Fruit Lovers to finalize new strategic partnerships for the development of the heart-shaped plum.
The Lovita® will also meet the French professionals of the fruit and vegetable sector at MEDFEL in Perpignan (Booth D32), on April 27th and 28th.
For more information:
Monika Kujundzic
French Fruit Lovers
2788 route de la Mégère
82200 MOISSAC - France
Phone: +33 (0)5 63 04 01 06
Mobile: +33 (0) 6 62 02 77 15
monika@agence-kujundzic.com
www.lovita-plum.com