The new apple variety Stellar, designed to withstand hot climates with high temperatures, will be presented at the international fair Fruit Attraction in Madrid. This hardy apple is a real innovation. At the same time, it represents the first early variety in the world specifically adapted to climates with hot summers. Stellar is the result of more than two decades of work by the Hot Climate Partnership (HCP), an alliance formed by the Institute for Research and Agri-Food Technologies of Catalonia (IRTA), Plant & Food Research of New Zealand, the Catalan fruit growers’ association Fruit Futur, and VentureFruit.
Resistant apple developed in Catalonia
This hardy apple is the second variety developed in Catalonia, and also in Spain, that is perfectly adapted to extreme climatic conditions. The first, Tutti, was launched last year and is characterized by its intense red color and sweet flavor. Stellar, on the other hand, shares some of these qualities, but has the advantage of being even earlier and heat resistant.
IRTA states that Stellar represents a significant advance in the production of early apples. Its bright red color and size, comparable to the popular Gala, make it attractive to both growers and retailers. It also has the advantage of ripening one to two weeks earlier than other varieties, allowing growers to have fresh fruit in midsummer, a time when apples are often in short supply. One of Stellar’s most outstanding characteristics is that, despite the high temperatures typical of July and August, it develops a bright, uniform red color. Its crisp, juicy texture makes it an ideal choice for the entire value chain, from growers to consumers.
Exceptional qualities
The name Stellar was chosen to reflect the exceptional qualities of this new variety. The word “stellar” has two meanings: “stellar” and “magnificent” or “exceptional”. According to the developers, this name highlights the variety’s ability to thrive in warm climates and deliver outstanding yield and color. This characteristic makes Stellar a star choice for both growers and consumers, who will enjoy an apple with excellent flavor and texture.
Morgan Rogers, CEO of VentureFruit, the company responsible for commercializing the varieties developed by the HCP, stressed the importance of innovations such as Stellar. According to Rogers, offering new varieties specifically selected for warm climates ensures that consumers can continue to enjoy high quality apples. In addition, growers benefit from options adapted to the new climatic realities.
Hot Climate Partnership
The Hot Climate Partnership was formed in 2002 in response to the challenges faced by apple and pear growers in Catalonia affected by climate change. Since then, the program has worked to develop new varieties that can withstand both hot and temperate climates, making them viable not only in heat-affected regions, but also in major apple-growing areas in Europe.
The release of the Stellar variety is the second by the Hot Climate Partnership, following the introduction of the Tutti apple in early 2023. Both varieties have proven to be able to withstand high temperatures, but can also grow well in more temperate climates. In addition to Stellar, the HCP has 13 apple and 6 pear varieties in its portfolio that are in the final stages of evaluation prior to commercialization.
Looking ahead, the Hot Climate Partnership plans to launch two additional hot climate-adapted apple varieties starting in 2025. These innovations are part of the HCP’s ongoing effort to offer sustainable and cost-effective solutions to growers in a context of increasing climate uncertainty.
The VentureFruit team will be present at the BayWa Global Produce stand (Stand 10D20 – Pavilion P10) at Fruit Attraction in Madrid, October 8-10, 2024, to officially present Stellar and other developments of the HCP program.
Image courtesy of https://www.irta.cat, all rights reserved.
