NZ: Dignitaries taste new Sun Gold
Zespri and Plant & Food have developed the new cultivar being grafted by orchardists on 2200 ha of vines this year.
Simon Bridges MP for Tauranga, Todd McClay MP for Rotorua, Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall and Prime Minister John Key discuss the new Gold3 kiwifruit (the gold cultivar Zespri is licensing to replace Hort16A) to share with MPs in Parliament. Photo by Mark Tantrum.
By doing so growers, hope to return to productivity after the devastation caused by the bacterial disease Psa-V.
Zespri General Manager Grower and Government Relations Simon Limmer says Gold3 – marketed under the name SunGold – is the cornerstone of industry’s Psa recovery pathway.
"We’re proud to share this great-tasting new gold fruit with MPs and ministers in Wellington. This cultivar was commercialised in 2010 after 10 year’s development and is showing good tolerance to the vine-killing disease Psa."
On Tuesday, Tauranga MP Simon Bridges, Todd McClay MP for Rotorua, Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall and the Prime Minister all got to sample the golden-fleshed fruit which has a slightly different flavor to Hort16A, but has still found favour in markets.
"Growers of the original Zespri Gold variety, known as Hort16A, have been severely impacted by Psa. As a result, around 1750 hectares of Gold3 will be grafted this winter to replace the less-tolerant Hort16A variety," says Simon.
"We expect these new plantings will be the basis of the recovery for our gold volumes from Psa over the next few years.
"Non-Gold orchards have also been allocated around 450 hectares of Gold3 this year to allow them to develop their orchard portfolio, as part of the ongoing development of the Gold category in New Zealand.
"This is a massive undertaking for the industry and while Gold3, like all kiwifruit varieties, is still at risk from Psa, we are confident that with a focused orchard management programme and on-going R&D support Gold3 has a very strong chance of success,” says Simon.
Source: sunlive.co.nz
