Pristine®
After 20 years and more than 250,000 crossings came the end of the Genetic Improvement program of the Blanc Seedless variety, that will enter Peru in the next season, under the marketing brand PRISTINE®, according to Jorge Torres, Chile´s Polar Fruit representative.
He also assured that right now three additional varieties in Chile and in California are under going a testing process, one black and 2 red mid-season and late.
Blanc Seedless – PRISTINE
Torres highlighted the attributes of the variety and pointed out that it is characterized by being of a white seedless variety, of late ripening in Chile´s central zone in mid-March, about 4 or 5 weeks after the Thompson Seedless.
For the specialist, the attributes that stood out the most would be its gibberellic acid treated vines of 3 or 4 centimetres and average diameter of 20 to 22 mm. It has high fertility, high crispness, hardness of its vines and taste.
Taste vs. Price
“The increase in fruit marketing today is focused on taste compared to the wide variety of options available to the custumer,” said Torres, who in turn said taste, in a new variety, is more important than price. “Consumers are willing to pay the price for an exceptional taste.”
In regards, Torres indicted that we should have better control over taste, the quality of the fruit, which is notoriously variable when choosing to change variety,” control requires constant taste monitoring, but as well requires a variety that really has the potential to taste good.”
Entry situation for Pristine to Peru
Although the specialist has indicated that the variety would soon come to our country, and assured that it is a variety with high performance and proven features, superior to the Thompson and Superior varieties; what is true is that the process is waiting for the communication of compliance of the INIA and other corresponding authorities, in regards to the N°000051-2009/DIN (Blanc Seedless) request, presented on January 16th, 2009.
By: Raúl Yaipén Carranza
Publication date: 7/11/2011