Hort Connection 2018: Honey pears a sweet proposition for Rocky
THERE’S a 17th century English proverb that Goulburn Valley fruit grower Rocky Varapodio is all too familiar with.
“Walnuts and pears you plant for your heirs” speaks to the length of time it takes for these ancient crops to grow. But Mr Varapodio, who farms on 200ha in Ardmona, is hoping his newest pear trees will bear fruit in just four years.
The pear, apple and stone fruit grower is in the process of planting Australia’s first honey belle pear trees, a new smaller, robust, early pear variety also known as belle de jumet.
About 20,000 trees are going in the ground across 15ha, with fruit expected within three years.
Mr Varapodio is the only Australian grower with a licence to grow pan-Pacific fresh produce marketer Freshmax’s trademarked pear that’s already proved a hit in Asia and the US.
The third-generation farmer first came across the variety on a research trip to New Zealand four years ago.
“It’s a sweet pear with a nice crunch,” he said. “So I really like its characteristics in terms of its flavour profile, its texture and its sweetness and I think it’s well suited to our region.”
The honey nelle will be the first new pear variety to hit Australian shelves in years. Mr Varapodio is pinning his hopes on the variety to lift sales across the entire pear category.
The pears will be sold at Coles supermarkets from 2022.
Source: The Weekly Times
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