US: Brandt’s announces new apple from Australian owners
Brandt’s Fruit Trees have been licensed for exclusive propagation and marketing rights to all territories of the world other than Australia. W.F. Montague Pty Ltd. of Victoria has been licensed for exclusive propagation and marketing rights in Australia.
Brandt’s Fruit Trees, Inc. will work with its affiliated company Pink Lady America (PLA) to administer its marketing responsibilities in the territories where PLA has rights. Both Montague’s and Brandt’s will utilize the Pink Lady mark where possible.
Thirdleaf "Early Cripps Pink" trees
This selection matures 3-4 weeks in advance of the standard Cripps Pink variety. Apples of the Barnsby cultivar have inherited the same outstanding eating quality found in fruit from its parent, whilst offering many advantages to growers over the standard 'Cripps Pink' strain. These advantages include earlier harvest date, reduced harvest risk, additional marketing season and potentially the extension of production zones into areas previously restricted by shorter growing seasons.
Along with the potential to expand the production boundaries for this much sought after apple, the Barnsby cultivar offers a solution for growers who are currently producing' Cripps Pink' apples in areas susceptible to autumn freezing and uncertainty as to whether the crop can be harvested before the onset of winter. This represents a very important risk management tool for those growers keen on having Pink Lady® brand apples in their production mix.
Another opportunity of the Barnsby cultivar is that it can extend the production period for growers in traditional areas where the harvest of 'Cripps Pink’ is constrained by environmental factors. Harvesting as many as four weeks earlier than ‘Cripps Pink’ enables growers to expand their production base or spread their harvest period over a longer period using a combination of the Barnsby cultivar and 'Cripps Pink'.
Lynnell Brandt of Brandt's Tree Fruits Inc. stated “The Barnsby cultivar selection offers growers exciting new opportunities to work in conjunction with the world renowned 'Cripps Pink' apple, which is marketed under the banner of Pink Lady®. Being a late season maturing apple, there are many important apple production areas of the world where the shorter growing season has restricted the production of 'Cripps Pink'. The Barnsby cultivar offers an opportunity for growers in these regions to be part of the Pink Lady® brand global production."
Added to this is the advantage that Barnsby cultivar allows for the marketing of Pink Lady® brand apples up to 6-8 weeks ahead of 'Cripps Pink' selections. This is due to the fact that in many growing districts ‘Cripps Pink’ apples should be stored for a period of time for optimum eating quality. If desired, the Barnsby cultivar can be matured so that there is optimum eating quality right off the tree. The apple can therefore be picked, packed and shipped.
Trials, in Western Australia, of the Barnsby cultivar selection have shown good bud line stability for tree vigour, cropping and fruit traits including maturity, skin colour and eating quality over two generations and 11 years of tree production. The Barnsby cultivar with its soft growth habit, precocity and good return bloom make the tree very grower friendly.
For more information, please contact Lynnell Brandt at: [email protected]
