Central Otago apricot growers have been trialling new apricot varieties which are set to hit the shelves soon.

Fifteen apricot growers from throughout New Zealand - the majority from Central Otago - have been involved in the new NZ Summer series that were officially named last week.

NZ Summerfresh Ltd released the names of the five varieties - Summer Spark, Summer Desire, Summer Charm, Summer Passion and Summer Blaze - which are due for export this season, 

Fifth generation Teviot grower Gary Bennetts was one of the first to trial the apricots 10 years ago, but will only be exporting them for the first time this season.

The NZ Summerfresh vice chair has just 4ha on his property, and was confident this season’s fruit was good enough for the international market.

A total of 44,000 to 45,000 trees spanning 44 to 46ha had originally been planted in the new apricot varieties. 

The apricots had been under trial everywhere from Tarras to Alexandra, Waikerikeri and Manuherikia, as well as some non-traditional areas such as Canterbury and around Christchurch, along with the Hawkes Bay. 

Ardgour Valley Orchards near Tarras was the largest producer of the new varieties, with 25ha planted over the past three years.

Overall it has taken more than 20 years of research and thousands of apricots were assessed, with input by growers, industry leaders, and overseas buyers of stonefruit.

The brief for the NZ Summer varieties was for firm, late, apricots with great flavour, good texture, and a blush of red colour.  

Each variety was quite unique and Plant & Food Research bred them specifically for each growing region.

NZ Summerfresh chair Stephen Darling SUPPLIED

NZ Summerfresh held the exclusive New Zealand rights to commercialise NZ Summer series apricots, specially bred in New Zealand.

“Our apricots reflect the very best of New Zealand’s summer which is long-awaited, much appreciated and enjoyed to the full. Summer series apricots are a notch above other apricots. They have an exceptionally high flavour with a juicy almost crisp texture, intense

sweetness and bright colour,” chair Stephen Darling said.

A grower’s cooperative was set up in 2022 to commercialise the proprietary varieties for export and domestic consumption.

It had an open-door policy and encouraged other summerfruit growers to be involved.

Plant & Food Research held ownership of the varieties and has obtained Plant Variety Rights in New Zealand and offshore. 

The licensing of those varieties to NZ Summerfresh was a natural progression of the long association between the research institute and the wider summerfruit industry body that established the commercialisation entity on behalf of the summerfruit industry.

"New Zealand has long been known for its innovative cultivars, bred for our environment and delivering delicious fruit that consumers want to eat," general manager science new cultivar innovation Dr Zac Hanley said.

"These new apricots are no exception and we look forward to seeing Summer series apricots on the supermarket shelves both here and overseas," he said.

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