Origine HFR18 red kiwifruit

Origine Group, a recently established consortium of nine of Italy’s leading fresh produce companies, is putting its weight behind a new variety of red-fleshed kiwifruit that it says could emerge as the “Ferrari” of the European fresh produce business.

Around 400ha of the new variety, HFR18, are set to be planted by Origine’s nine members, which together represent almost 20 per cent of Europe’s kiwifruit production, as well as more than 4 per cent of the continent’s pear output.

By spring 2016, around 20ha will already be in the ground, with the target production area due to be established during the coming years as producers and marketers learn how to manage it. Origine will hold the exclusive licence to grow and sell the kiwifruit in Europe.

“Development of this new variety will be gradual because of the availability of plant material and so we can learn how to handle and grow it,” commented Alberto Garbuglia, Origine’s managing director. “We’ve bought a Ferrari but we have to learn how to drive it first.”

The variety is understood to offer larger-than-average sizing as well as a distinctive band of red flesh at its centre.

The licence for HFR18 is managed by Ferrara-based company Fruitgrowing Equipment and Service and was originally developed in China by a team led by Professor Li Mingzhang of the Deyang Professional Academy of Kiwifruit in Sichuan Province.

Established in August, Origine’s members are Afe, Apofruit, FruttaC2, Granfrutta Zani, Kiwi Uno, Kiwi Sole, Pempa-Corer, Salvi-Unacoa and Spreafico.