Five of the world's leading topfruit producers have joined forces to form the International Pome Fruit Alliance.
The alliance, made up of Fruitways (South Africa), Heartland (New Zealand), Montague Fresh (Australia), San Clemente (Chile) and VOG/VI.P (Italy), signals the beginning of a new era in varietal development, according to a press release from the group.
It will allow variety owners to fast-track the testing of varieties and to work with one single entity in order to achieve a global reach at the production level.
The company's main activities will include providing information to variety owners on the characteristics that new varieties need in order to gain global success, evaluating the potential of varieties, and cooperating to commercialise varieties globally.
John McCliskie, acting chairman of the International Pome Fruit Alliance, commented: 'In time, the entity will be working to commercialise varieties using the most cost-efficient system with significant global reach and access to over 20,000ha of pome orchards.'
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