Naturalma ® Program New  Resistant  Storable  Attractive  Tasty  apple varieties of the Holland Alma Ltd.

Trends of varieties and innovation in nursery production

Signs of the change 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

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 in Piricse Already in the first year!

L U N A

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

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! Szabolcs Babicz