Sun World has been involved in variety development for several decades and believes there are significant opportunities for further diversification in the grape sector.
Over the past 10 years, much of Sun World’s attention has been focused on seedless grape development, says David Marguleas, senior vice president. “Recent releases include varieties marketed under brands such as Midnight Beauty, Sable Seedless, Sophia Seedless and Coachella Seedless, as well as three exciting new late-ripening white and red seedless grape varieties,” he says.
Grape breeding is a complicated and painstaking process and it can take as long as 10-12 years from the time a cross is made to the time a variety is ready for commercial release. When considering a new variety, Sun World’s main priority is to enhance the flavour and overall eating quality.
But important secondary objectives are also taken into consideration. These include optimising product ripening times, berry and fruit size, consumer appeal, texture, post-harvest keeping qualities and shelf-life and varietal productivity. “We expect that future releases will incorporate many of these traits,” Marguleas says.
Through Sun World in California and its licensed marketers in South Africa, Chile, Australia, Israel and Europe, seedless grapes are consistently available to leading UK and European supermarkets.
The introduction of Sun World’s new grape variety (Sugrasixteen), which is marketed under the more familiar brand name Sable Seedless, has garnered significant interest.
The variety is currently grown commercially on Sun World vineyards in California and smaller volumes are grown in various countries. Some limited supplies will be produced, harvested and sold from South Africa through Sun World’s three licensed marketers, Capespan, The Grape Company and/or Dole South Africa this season.
“We expect that a few hundred initial cartons of this new black seedless grape will be exported to the UK this January,” Marguleas says. “Initial reaction to Sable Seedless by UK retailers and their category managers has been exceptional. It promises to be one of our most popular new products,” he claims.
Sable Seedless is one of many seedless grape varieties that have come out of the Sun World stable in recent years. All cultivars have been developed at its research and development centre in Bakersfield, California. The centre is surrounded by a 73 hectare experimental plot in which many thousands of grape seedlings are grown annually.
A number of key varieties have been distributed for test plantings in Europe, Israel, South Africa, Australia and Chile. Some, including those marketed under the Coachella Seedless, Sophia Seedless and Sable Seedless brands have already scored favourably with key UK supermarkets.
In addition, Marguleas notes that Midnight Beauty brand grapes will be exported to major UK and European supermarkets in significant volumes in January. “We expect that some of our other cultivars will find their way to British and European supermarkets in the coming few years,” he predicts.
Each year, Sun World’s research team evaluates 25,000 to 30,000 seedlings - each of which has the potential to be a new Sun World variety.
From its California base, Sun World has commercially planted five new seedless varieties in recent years. Many of these will be available for sale in Europe within the next few years.
While Marguleas feels that the UK market is particularly demanding, he believes that there is enormous potential to supply it with new, high quality, seedless grape varieties.
“At present, the UK handles essentially white and red/black grapes,” he says. “Given our focus on developing new varieties, and in particular the success we’ve had with introducing black seedless cultivars, there is tremendous growth potential for expanding the grape category beyond two colours to three distinct colours.”
Sun World believes that this will allow those throughout the supply chain the opportunity to increase sales and offer more diverse varieties.
According to Marguleas, Sun World’s licensing programmes mean its new cultivars are available to qualified producers and marketers around the world, ensuring that key retailers and other distributors have consistent access to superior fruit varieties from the major growing regions.
Sun World’s development efforts date back to the early 1970s and its Sugraone (Superior Seedless brand) grape - is one of the world’s best known seedless grape varieties.
In recent years Sun World has fought hard to defend its Sugraone variety. Some longstanding disputes in a number of countries are being resolved and last year, the US producer and several leading Australian grape producers and marketers made their peace.
The recent agreement will allow Australian players to grow and distribute Sugraone grapes and to use Sun World’s Superior Seedless brand trademark. It could also enhance future operations as growers will be granted access to Sun World’s other seedless table grape varieties.
Sun World has opened an office in New South Wales to manage its fruit licensing business in Australia and New Zealand which will operate as Sun World Australasia.
No comments yet