Since 1983 TopFruit has evaluated and released exciting fruit varieties to South African fruit producers. Through its international alliance and links to plant breeders, TopFruit has been able to offer growers unique opportunities to grow protected varieties bred and discovered from all the major fruit growing regions in the world. TopFruit’s unique position in South Africa provides exciting opportunities to growers. Browse our website and view the latest in cultivar development and intellectual property management of new fruit varieties.

TopFruit invites growers to collaborate with our management and nursery team for the multiplication and evaluation of local mutations and chance seedlings. As a member of the Associated International Group of Nurseries (AIGN), TopFruit will ensure the best distribution of South African varieties in the worlds major fruit growing regions. The Plant Improvement Act 53 of 1976 sets out the framework for establishing and running plant improvement organisations like TopFruit. A Deciduous Fruit Plant Improvement Scheme was established to regulate the provision of quality plant material to grape, stone, and pome fruit growers. The Deciduous Fruit Plant Improvement Association (DPA), now under the umbrella of plant SA (Plant Improvement South Africa) was established as a voluntary body to carry out the aims and objectives of the Act. The chief aim of the DPA is to provide propagation material of the above fruit types that meet national and international standards. The DPA has a self-funding mechanism that provides for certification of plant material to participating nurseries. This ensures minimum standards for vines and fruit trees. The quality standards meet good nursery practice as well as ensuring best virus free levels available. The disease profile of imported material is strictly controlled and the Scheme, along with the Directorate of Plant Health, ensures that the introduction of exotic pests and diseases do not occur via legally imported plant material without stopping new varieties entering the country.

TopFruit supplies certified budwood to accredited nurseries. The past Chairman of the DPA, Dr Jim Button, is a shareholder and director of TopFruit. The company remains at the forefront of variety development by introducing new varieties to South African growers and broadening the commercialisation base for local discoveries through controlled access via our AIGN partners.