At mid-season, the Innatis group provides an overview of its club varieties, each chosen for their specificities and complementarity. A range that is ready for the second part of a challenging campaign.
HoneyCrunch®: an orchard that continues to develop over time
Produced in the Loire Valley and Germany, the HoneyCrunch® is a two-tone apple chosen by Innatis for its “crunchiness” and thin skin. It can be found in supermarkets and at wholesalers from September to June. The HoneyCrunch® is a crunchy, light and refreshing variety that is suitable for snacking as well as culinary preparations.
Arnaud de Puineuf, who is responsible for this variety, assesses the current season. “The harvest was similar to last year’s in terms of volumes, with larger calibers. The taste quality is good, once again, thanks to weather conditions that favored high sugar levels. All of last year’s clients are present on the HoneyCrunch®’s traditional markets and new buyers are now selling the variety in order to offer a different apple to their clients.”
Lolipop®: great storage capacity
Selected for its intense red color and high sugar content, the LoliPop® targets consumers that enjoy sweet and mild apples. This “candy fruit” produced in the Tarn-et-Garonne, Vaucluse, Isère and Alpes de Haute Provence, is available from October until July. Since its launch in 2017, the variety has experienced a strong development for both conventional and organic productions.
“For the current unusual season, the LoliPop® Bio continues its path. As the sweetest apple on the market, it has easily found its place within the current offer of organic apples.”
Zingy®: a better harvest than last year
Produced in the Loire Valley and southeast of France, the Zingy® is a two-tone, tangy apple with a strong vermilion red color. “We have a good harvest this year, better than last year thanks to the newly planted orchards that have started producing. The variety continues to grow at the European level, with new countries that are now producing it in order to have local supply on their domestic markets. The variety is mainly sold in France and the UK, with some developments in exports as well,” explains Arnaud de Puineuf.
Choupette®: promising second part of the season
Authentic, French, rustic and natural, the Choupette® is a two-tone apple available from December to August. Appreciated for its sweetness, crunchiness and rich aromas, the Choupette® is the perfect apple for families looking for a local variety produced conventionally and organically in the Loire Valley and Alsace regions. “We’ve had a good harvest with large calibers and a nice color. Marketing started in December. Thanks to its conservation qualities, the Choupette® is an alternative to the Gala and import apples from the month of May,” explains James Launay.
Juliet®: the reference among organic apples
Juliet® celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. This two-tone variety is the reference among organic apples and the first apple to be 100% organic and produced exclusively in France. It is sold from October to July, in conventional circuits as well as in stores specialized in organic products. Beyond its success in France, the Juliet® has also conquered the hearts of other markets as it is present in 30 other countries worldwide. “The harvest was homogeneous in terms of quality for all producing regions. All of our clients from last year are also present this year, and the Juliet® continues to conquer new buyers,” explains Pierre Gratacos, operational director at Cardell.
Lubee®: unanimous success for this first marketing year
The Lubee® is making a remarkable entry into the organic world by offering an organic yellow apple that is 100% French. The variety is a great addition to the under-represented section of organic yellow apples in French and foreign supermarkets. “It is a very aromatic apple, with a perfect sugar/acidity balance, for which we have great ambitions. The range of packaging is being expanded to meet all demands, and the planting program continues in order to satisfy all of our customers,” explains Pierre Gratacos.
All conventional apples of the Innatis group have the following certifications: Eco-responsible Orchards, HEV and Global Gap.
For more information:
Alice Gianola
Innatis
alice.gianola@innatis.com