Dutch marketer The Greenery says it is making good progress in developing a global network of pear producers capable of supplying protected, licensed variety Sweet Sensation to customers throughout Europe and around the world.
The red variety is well on the way to being established as a commercial-grade, year-round crop grown in European countries, including Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK, as well as in the Southern Hemisphere.
Licence-holders were due to come together on Thursday 16 August for their first marketing and sales meeting, reinforcing their commitment to pushing forward the required expansion in Europe.
For its part, The Greenery is also looking to extend its grower network further; last month it was in discussions to plant trees in Slovenia, with similar partnerships likely in Romania, Spain and Turkey in the near future.
'Our total plan for Europe is to have around 1,750ha spread across the Northern Hemisphere,' confirms Bert Wilschut, The Greenery's topfruit product manager.
'But, per country, the amount of hectares per licensee is in fact so small that it will remain a niche product in each of those countries.'
The Greenery is also establishing production of Sweet Sensation in Argentina, Chile and South Africa, a move which it says should enable it to guarantee year-round supply for its customers in the near future.
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