Jupiter Group's Greek plum project

This is the first year of the trial

Global fresh produce grower Jupiter Grouphas announced it will trial six new varieties of South African plums in the northern hemisphere for the first time.

In co-operation with its kiwi partner in Greece, AS Nestos, Jupiter has secured the African Delight, Ruby Star, African Rose, Ruby Sun, Ruby Crisp and Sun Kiss plum varieties.

The cultivars are part of a Culdevco breeding programme, a deciduous fruit licensor that curates and licenses innovative new varieties of plums, peaches, apples, pears and table grapes.

They have been selected for their flavour, quality and likelihood to flourish in the surroundings of Kavala in northern Greece.

A project two years in the planning, the plants have now arrived in Europe and Jupiter said it expects to see samples of production 'in a couple of years’ time'.