Naturalma® Program

New Resistant Storable

Attractive Tasty

apple varietiesof the Holland Alma Ltd.

TrendsTrends of varieties and of varieties and innovationinnovation in in nursery productionnursery production

Signs of the change• 2004-2005 pause of the planting grants• Even stricter terms and conditions of the

eligibility for the grants• Obligations hard to fulfil• Close of the market demand• Fall back of the production (less extent of

propagations)• Decrease of the raw material production• Nurseries are closing

Trends do not lie• The interest for varieties that can be produced expensive is

decreasing• The demand on „green line” (Granny, Mutsu) is falling back• Varieties that can be produced at low-cost level are coming to

the focus• The demand on varieties Idared and Florina is increasing• Two directions – Producers are seeking the way out!

– Direction of resistant, tolerant varieties– Direction of „safe” and yielding varieties

– Golden clones have a stable market

Shall we continue, what we have done so far? Shall we do, what others do?Both nursery and producers go bankrupt without innovation!

Aim of the Naturalma® Programme is

To find new, attractive, storable, tasty varieties that are competitive with the at present produced varieties. To purchase the propagation rights of these varieties, register, propagate them, establish a producers’ club, establish and operate an effective nursery and consume marketing system. To help the produced and branded product funds to be placed well on the market.

„In harmonie with nature”

If we continue what we habe done before ….

… we get what we did before.

We have started to select the varieties from 60 different candidates…

… and we have evaluated 10 varieties that are already produced in Hungary – as control varieties.

At the end of the evaluation process we have selected five

varieties

• Red Topaz

• Rozela

• Sirius• Luna• Orion

2.

Rozela

Rozela

Rozela

Rozela• Diploid, good pollinator, bears fruits on the longer spurs• flowers heavily and regularly• Picking time. One week before Golden delicious• Precocious, annual producer of heavy crops• In natural storage fruits can be kept until March• attains 90 % attractive red blush over yellow ground

colour, prominent lenticels• Flesh yellowish, medium firm, crisp, juicy, sweet with

little acid, good aromatic flavour• Resistant to scab, tolerant to powdery mildew• Grower-friendly variety, appears to be better adapted

to cooler apple producing areas

5.

Red Topaz

• Red Topaz & Luna in a 1-year plantation

Red Topaz

• A colour-mutant of the parent variety, „candelabrum”

• Picking time before Golden, hangs quite well on the trees

• Brings fruits early

• Fruits can be stored until March

• Plat, big fruits, almost 100% red cover

• Resistant to scab, tolerant to mildew

1.

Luna inPiricse

Already in the first year!

LUN

A

Luna

Luna

• Growth intensity and form = Golden D.• Picking time: one week after Golden• Can be kept in natural storage until the

beginning of April• Fruit: Heavy producer, becomes yellow and a

slight blush during storage, flesh is firm, crispy and juicy, Brix-index is above 13.5

• Resistant to scab,, moderately tolerant to powdery mildew. The variety is considered for both integrated and ecological production.

6.

Orion• Tree: Triploid, strong vigour• Picking time: similar to Golden• Productivity: brings fruits early, no alternation• Can be kept in natural storage until March• Fruit: Big, yellow fruits; sometimes get a slight blush.

Very juicy, has a special taste that combines sweetness and tartness (Brix 16.1%)

• Diseases: Resistant to scab (Vf), tolerant to mildew

• Comment: The variety is considered for organic production. Under intensive growing systems with rich nutrition may produce oversized fruits.

Endures drought.

4.

Sirius

Sirius• Triploid, vigorous, semi-spreading, bears on longer

spurs• Flowering: before Delicious• Picking time: about 10 days after Golden Delicious, fruits

hang separated even without pruning. • Productivity: Early, regular and homogenous.• Keeping quality: in natural storage until April• Fruit: Middle to large size, globular, greenish yellow

ground colour with occasional slight blush, Flesh is yellow and firm, crispy, fine textured, very juicy, with good sugar acid rate (14.7 % Brix). Fine aromatic.

• Diseases: Resistant to scab• Comment: Production criteria are similar to Jonagold,

apart from treatments against scab. Very attractive! Very interesting variety with many excellent parameters. Is considered for ecological production.

We have so far:• Recognized the problems of the producers • Generated the innovation group • Defined the aim • Selected the new varieties • Prepared and signed the agreements for the new varieties • Prepared a marketing and financial plan • Established a model plantation • 2010 hand graftings • 2010 budding• Branding-innovation • Organisation of a producers’ club • Popularization of the varieties in the professional media

Thank you for your attention!

www.hollandalma.hu

Szabolcs Babicz