French seed breeder Pépinières Delbard and the Tentation Club’s growers and distributors in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Switzerland are convinced Tentation will be the next big thing as far as apple varieties are concerned.
The apple is already in commercial volumes in France, Switzerland, and New Zealand. Volumes this season are forecast to reach 7,700 tonnes globally up from 6,500 tons in 2003-04.
This spring more than 400t from New Zealand alone were marketed in France and the UK. And the figure should increase rapidly as two NZ producers, Orchard Crisp and Nelson Fruit Services - between them representing more than 20 growers - plan to plant some 70,000 trees in 2005. "Our orchard will reach 100 hectares by 2007," said Nick Patterson, project manager for the two companies.
Volumes could even reach 4,000-5,000t as yields from the southern hemisphere orchards are excellent. Fruit from NZ reaches the European markets around mid-May.
Tentation is marketed in the UK by Chicory Crops in Gloucestershire to retailers Marks&Spencer and Waitrose. The club kicked off the season’s with a presence at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew as well as the National Fruit Show.
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