Maxie pears

Crispie pears

Crispie pears

Antipodean jv new-fruit specialist Prevar has launched two pear varieties unique to New Zealand onto the market. Maxie™ and Crispie™ are a combination of European pear flavour and Asian pear crunchiness.

Prevar specializes in the global commercialisation of new top fruit cultivars created by HortResearch.

Maxie and Cripsie are the result of years of work by scientists at the crown research institute in crossing European and Asian pear varieties to produce new, highly-coloured fruit that have the crispness, keeping quality and ready-to-eat characteristics of Asian types with the flavours and aromas of European types.

The two varieties unveiled this week are the first of these pears to be released to growers. “The flavours and textures of MaxieTM and CrispieTM are lovely and both pears have a very attractive appearance,” said Prevar ceo Brett Ennis. “When eaten crisp, fruit of both cultivars is pleasantly scented, of sweet and aromatic flavour, and reminiscent of fresh, ripe Bartlett pears.” CrispieTM has a more delicate flavour, with lower acidity. Maxie TM has an enhanced flavour, with slightly higher acidity.

“These odours and flavours intensify as the fruit of both cultivars ripen and soften,” said Dr Ennis.

Maxie™ is an appealing and eye-catching early maturing crisp-textured pear with a yellow/gold background colour, red over-colour, and round shape that has a strong ripe flavour. Given its shape and colouring, this variety is likely to be recognised to be an Asian variety. Crispie™ is of medium size with a typical European shape and a light yellow, lemony background colour.

Although neither variety suitable for export due to reduced storage potential, US-based Associated International Group of Nurseries (AIGN) president, Lynnell Brandt, said he expects Prevar™ to market the two pears to be grown in other countries in the next few years.

“The global pear industry is hungry for innovative cultivars and I’m confident that Prevar will continue to be a significant source of innovation,” he said.

Prevar is an international joint venture company established to market globally new top-fruit cultivars emanating from the HortResearch pipfruit breeding programme.

Its jv partners are Pipfruit New Zealand, Apple & Pear Australia, AIGN and HortResearch.