"Looking far into the future - that's what we're doing," says Nicolas Stevens of Better3Fruit. This Belgian company breeds apple and pear varieties. "We have a twin strategy. On the one hand, we look at the big picture - tolerance and resistance to various diseases and pests. We consider perception too - taste and texture, the yield for growers, and nutrient waste."
Nicolas says the climate and multi-level sustainability are their primary long-term goals. Better3fruit also tries to offer the broadest possible portfolio of appearance, size, and taste. They want to provide different partners with the perfect variety in the short term. That's regardless of the growing region or target market.
Weather extremes
Top fruit farmers are increasingly confronted by challenges. That's due to the changing weather conditions. "These are the aspects Better3Fruit investigates in the breeding process. For example, it appears that certain varieties are more resistant to sun damage. The company's also focusing on types that color well.
"We look very closely at how the varieties color. That's because we know there's a good chance they'll end up being grown under hail nets." For the long periods of dry weather, Nicolas sees rootstocks as the primary solution. "Root systems can play a vital role. And breeding suitable varieties can supplement that well."
Satisfied
There are many apple varieties on the market. Nicolas points out that a clear added value is, therefore, essential in a new apple variety. Aspects such as look, taste, and texture play a role in convincing consumers. And that convincing can happen within a concept as well as through the free varieties. "I think there's room for club varieties. They have a very loyal audience."
"There's also definitely room for the free varieties. Ultimately, growers must be able to earn a living. And that's only possible if consumers are satisfied. Another characteristic we focus on is storage capacity. That ensures that consumers can always enjoy the same product. With our varieties, we can put an identical product on the market for up to six months."
Crunchy
Better3Fruit is currently involved in testing different pears in Europe. Fifteen years of work have gone into these. Consumer opinions have been well-considered. People often can't find perfectly ripe pears. They're either a little too hard or very soft. Then they're a bit of a mess to eat. "We're trying to find a solution for this by breeding pears that remain crispy and tasty for several weeks." Appearance is also important. "We try to have distinctive shapes and colors, so shoppers immediately recognize the pears," Nicolas concludes.
Voor meer informatie:
Nicolas Stevens
Better3Fruit
Steenberg 36
B-3202 Rillaar - België
+32 (0)16 24 16 10
[email protected]
www.better3fruit.com
