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NOVEMBER 2004 |
DECEMBER 2004
December 2004 - Week 49
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The first fruit of
Ralli Seedless has
been harvested end
November 2004 on the
Orange River and the
colour was very
good. This is a
great development
and vindicates the
belief we have had
in this variety
since we first saw
it in 1996. It is by
no means the end of
the road and much
work remains to be
done to ensure the
kind of result we
all hope for with
this variety. In
contrast however
less good news is
that the promised
colour chart does
not look as if it
will serve its
purpose. I have
circulated a
proposal to the
technical committee
and await their
response before
proceeding with
printing the charts.
The meeting with
Pick ’n Pay went
well and despite
reservations
expressed it is
clear that there
will be a meaningful
programme for the
local market. Ralli
growers must not
undermine this
programme with fruit
finding its way to
hawkers or any other
outlet within South
Africa. |
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The Early Sweet™ / Grapaes
at Bellevue is also looking
very promising. An estimated
berry size is 14mm at the
end of week 48. If you wish
to view it please contact
Peter Allderman 083 285
3275 or
Salomé Neethling 084 571
0322 to arrange to see the
vines and fruit.
The cherry varieties in the
test block are at the tail
end and photographs of the
varieties are available for
those of you who wish to
have a look at what came off
the test block. For those of
you who came to have a look
thank you for your interest
and I hope that the success
we have had with cherries is
an incentive to you to
consider this very demanding
crop.
The first of the stone fruit
is ripening in the Bokkeveld
and Witklippies test sites
and anyone who has the time
and would like to see the
test block is welcome to
visit when
Salomé Neethling is at
the test blocks. Contact her
on 084 571 0322.
The Sundowner® grower
company had a very
successful meeting at
Infruitec at the end of
November 2004. Feedback on
the International Meeting
held at Bulzano to establish
international co-operation
between the various
licensees was given at the
meeting. Andy MacDonald
from Coregeo in the UK gave
a detailed report on the
marketing of the variety
this past season with a view
to getting the company
shareholders to back the
plans for the coming season.
This was agreed at the
meeting with a few proviso’s
and we look forward to the
next meeting at which the
detailed planning for the
coming season will be
presented to the
shareholders for approval.
Amber Jewel® is at stone
hardening for some of the
growers and thinning is
important to be done
properly. Remember that this
variety does get the tip of
the stone broken off during
the fruit development
especially if it is
over-thinned. However
generally set is very good
and thinning is a necessity.
So be careful in how this is
balanced. Calcium sprays are
recommended to help the
fruit cell walls develop
well and thus help prevent
storage problems.
For the Pink Lady® growers
and consumers in the UK you
might be interested in the
Sainsbury programme they are
running with Pink Lady® on
buyagift.co.uk
The European Union has put
into practice Implementation
Regulation 1891/2004 on 21
October 2004 to implement
the provisions of the
Anti-Piracy Regulation
EC1383/2003 of 22 July 2003.
This is great news to
variety owners as it allows
them to request by means of
a National or Community
Application Form to request
customs authorities to seize
unlicensed material
infringing a Plant Breeders’
Right/s upon entry into the
EU. The best part for a
variety owner is that this
is a service, which is free
of charge except for any
translations that may be
required.
I
trust that the season will
continue as well as it has
and that you will be able to
get through with your water
supplies.
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