Last year saw the first trial plantings of the Enza trademarked varieties Pacific Beauty, Pacific Queen and Pacific Rose. These are already commercially successful in New Zealand and the objective is to establish year-round continuity for supermarket programmes across the northern hemisphere. The WWF top fruit development committee has established two testing sites in east and west Kent. Enza has a 40% share interest in the WWF. Over 300 trees cover eight varieties ­ including Scifresh, recently trademarked Jazz and one of the world's most sought after new apples. Large scale commercial plantings are planned over the next year. This global programme began eight years ago when Enza planted trial trees of Pacific Rose and Southern Snap in France and Washington State. The range is now being tested or awaiting release from quarantine in Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, Chile, Argentina, Australia and South Africa where, by using similar test plots, Enza will judge their potential should market opportunities arise. If a country or variety is suitable, Enza will contract with growers controlling the marketing and acreage to optimise price/volume ratios. But success is not assured even if the fruit is potentially excellent. In the Loire Valley, the three Pacific varieties and Southern Snap did not pass the initial trial phase and were deemed unsuitable because of cosmetic defects. In addition to the Enza new varieties, the observation plots have leading new varieties from top French fruit propagator Davodeau Ligonniere, including a range of Braeburn clones that will be of interest to many UK growers. The observation plots will be monitored by WWF-Qualytech over the next five years and the TFD Committee plans more in future seasons. {{FRESH PRODUCE }}

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