Graham's Factree. Cultivar Innovation

Graham's Factree Cultivar Innovation

Graham's Factree Continuing the Fleming family tradition. Graham Fleming Shan Fleming Robert Fleming Rebecca Fleming & Drew Bunting Libby Fleming Patrick Fleming

Topics 1. Whispers from California 2. Stonefruit evaluation 3. My thoughts on Orchard Innovation 4. Current 'Club' Opportunities 5. Apple varieties 6. Stonefruit varieties

Whispers from California Production at height was about 62 million boxes and currently at about 40 million boxes o Resulting in strong demand for nursery trees o Shippers reporting good prices this year, except apricots Large growers can afford to innovate and still gamble on varieties Small to medium sized growers are being conservative in their variety selection, trying to 'Guarantee' returns Quote from: Robert Woolley Dave Wilson Nursery

Can you afford to gamble with varieties any more? We used to be able to gamble Not any more as margins are tight Evaluate, Evaluate, Evaluate!

The Evaluation Project First and second evaluations are in, mainly from Renmark. This year we should be getting secondary evaluations from other regions. The latest Annual Report is available at: http://evaluations.factree.com.au This project is funded by HAL through voluntary contributions from Graham's Factree Pty Ltd with matched funds from the Australian government.

Current Sites Renmark - Primary stonefruit Swan Hill - Secondary stonefruit Shepparton - Secondary stonefruit Perth Hills - Secondary stonefruit Lismore - Secondary low chill stonefruit (removed) Wangaratta - Primary cherries Young - Secondary cherries Silvan - Secondary cherries Adelaide Hills - Secondary cherries Tasmania - Secondary cherries (still being finalised) Swan Hill - Secondary cherries

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Yellow Peaches 'FTP104' 7/110/2012 - Score 7/10 A yellow peach with a dark red striped colour, an ovate shape, and an average size of 56mm. Flesh is yellow with a crunchy and juicy texture, acidic flavour and an average Brix of 9%. Commercial flower density and crop load are reported. There are reports of some stone splitting and some bleeding under the skin when soft. May suit low chill region.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Yellow Peaches Super Zee 18/10/2012 Score 7/10 A yellow peach with blushed skin, an ovate shape and an average size of 59mm. The flesh is soft and juicy with a slightly sweet flavour with an average Brix score of 10.5%. Split stones of about 5% are recorded. A commercial flower density and crop load for this period is reported.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Yellow Peaches FTP0912 31/11/2012 - Score 7/10 A yellow peach with solid colour, an oblong shape, and an average size of 63mm. Flesh is yellow with a crunchy and juicy texture, a slightly sweet flavour and an average Brix score of 11%. An average flower density and crop load were recorded.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Yellow Peaches FTP0058 7/11/2012 - Score 7/10 A yellow peach with solid colour, an ovate shape, and an average size of 63mm. Flesh is yellow and shows a small amount of bleeding, and has a crunchy and juicy texture, a balanced flavour and an average Brix score of 10%. Average flower density and commercial crop load were recorded.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Yellow Peaches FTP0816 22/11/2012 - Score 7/10 A yellow peach with a blushed red colour, an ovate shape, and an average size of 67mm. Flesh is yellow with a crisp and crunchy texture, a slightly sweet and bitter flavour and an average Brix score of 13%. An average flower density and light crop load were recorded. Notes include: Good sweet flavour on acid base, just needs a better crop.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Yellow Peaches 'FTP0810' 25/11/2012 - Score 7.5/10 A yellow peach with blushed dark red skin and an average size of 69mm. Flesh is crunchy and juicy with balanced, slightly sweet flavour and has an average Brix of 14%. An average flower density and light crop load were recorded. Notes include: Only down side is crop yield (3rd leaf). Good flavour.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Yellow Peaches 'FTP093' 25/11/2012 - Score 7/10 A yellow peach with bushed dark red skin, an ovate shape and an average size of 73mm. Flesh is crunchy and juicy with very sweet flavour and an average Brix score of 15%. The flower density is average and a light crop load is reported. Notes include: Only thing lacking is fruit yield.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Yellow Peaches 'FTP055' 13/12/2012 Score 7/10 A yellow peach with blushed moderate colour, a slightly flat shape and an average size of 76mm. Flesh is crunchy and juicy with slightly sweet flavour and an average Brix score of 12%. A commercial flower density and crop load are reported.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Yellow Peaches 'Royal Pride' 19/12/2012 Score 6.5/10 A yellow peach with a solid red skin and an average size of 70mm. Flesh has a crunchy and juicy texture, a slightly sweet flavour and an average Brix score of 13%. An average flower density and a light crop load were reported.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Yellow Peaches 'FTP043' 21/12/2012 - Score 7/10 A yellow peach with solid red/dark red skin, rounded shape and an average size of 77mm. Flesh is crunchy and juicy with slightly sweet flavour and an average Brix score of 13%. Commercial flower density and crop load are reported.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Yellow Peaches 'FTP046' 22/12/2012 - Score 7/10 A yellow peach with moderate blushed colour, round in shape and an average size of 76mm. Flesh is crunchy and juicy with balanced flavour and an average Brix score of 11%. A commercial flower density and crop load are reported.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Yellow Peaches 'FTP096' 1/1/2013 - Score 7/10 A yellow peach with red/dark red skin, a slightly flat shape and an average size of 73mm. Flesh is crunchy and juicy with a slightly sweet flavour and an average Brix score of 14%. An average flower density and crop load have been reported.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Yellow Peaches 'Red Fall'(TM) 1/2/2013 - Score 7.5/10 A yellow peach with dark red skin, a slightly flat shape and an average fruit size of 73mm. Flesh has a crunchy and juicy texture and a very sweet flavour and an average Brix score of 15%. A minimal amount of bleeding around the stone is observed. An average flower density and crop load are reported.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. White Peaches Snow Angel 19/10/2012 Score 7/10 A white peach with blushed colouration, a rounded shape and an average size of 66mm. Flesh is crunchy, juicy and has a slightly sweet flavour with an average Brix score of 9.8%. Commercial flower density and crop load are reported. Notes include: Good variety if handled correctly.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. White Peaches 'FTP0721' 27/11/2012 - Score 7/10 A white peach with a solid dark red colour, a rounded shape, and an average size of 69mm. Flesh is white with a crunchy and juicy texture, a sightly sweet flavour and an average Brix score of 12%. A minimal amount of bleeding was reported under the skin. An average flower density and average crop load were recorded. Notes include: Good flavour, firm and soft.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. White Peaches 'FTP099' 7/12/2012 - Score 7/10 A white peach with moderate, blushed colour, a rounded and slightly flat shape and an average size of 66mm. Flesh is crunchy and juicy with slightly sweet flavour and an average Brix score of 13%. Average flower density and crop load reported.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. White Peaches 'FTP088' 14/12/2012 Score 7/10 A white peach with red skin and a slightly flat shape averaging 75mm in size. It has a low acid flavour and is sweet with a brix score of 14%. The tree had an average fruit load. (NB. No evaluator total score recorded, so Factree gave it a 7 based on evaluator scores of: 7 tree, 7.5 fruit, 6.5 flesh)

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. White Peaches 'FTP082' 29/12/2012 - Score 7/10 A white peach with blushed dark red colour, a rounded shape, and an average size of 71mm. Flesh is white with a crunchy and juicy texture, a very sweet flavour and an average Brix score of 14%. An average flower density and crop load were recorded.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. White Peaches 'FTP078' 29/12/2012 - Score 7/10 A white peach with solid dark red colour, a rounded shape, and an average size of 74mm. Flesh is white with a crunchy and juicy texture, a slightly sweet flavour and an average Brix score of 12%. Commercial flower density and crop load were recorded. Notes include: Good overall colour and yield.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. White Peaches 'FTP102' 6/1/2013 - Score 7.5/10 A white peach with dark red skin a rounded shape and an average size of 71mm. Flesh is crunchy and juicy with a very sweet flavour with an average Brix score of 15%. A small amount of bleeding around the stone has been recorded. A commercial flower density and crop load have been reported.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. White Peaches 'FTP034' 17/1/2013 - Score 7/10 A white peach with solid dark red colour, an ovate shape, and an average size of 72mm. Flesh is white with a crunchy, rubbery and juicy texture, slightly sweet flavour and an average Brix score of 15%. Average flower density and crop load were recorded.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. White Peaches 'FTP079' 13/2/2013 - Score 7/10 A white peach with a blushed dark red colour, rounded shape and an average size of 76mm. Flesh is crunchy and juicy with a very sweet flavour and an average Brix score of 16%. A small amount of bleeding was reported around the stone. Commercial flower density and crop loadreported.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Yellow Nectarines Honey May 22/10/2012 - Score 7/10. 'Zee Fire' 8/11/2012 - Score 7/10 'FTN105' 12/11/2012 - Score 7/10 'FTN0420' 13/11/2012 Score 7/10 'Honey Prima' 15/11/2012 - Score 7/10 'Skye' 24/11/2012 - Score 7/10 'Honey Lite' 27/11/2012 - Score 7/10 'FTN059' 30/11/2012 - Score 7/10 'FTN055' 30/11/2012 - Score 7/10 'Honey Fire' 30/11/2012 - Score 7/10 'FTN042' 6/12/2012 - Score 7/10 FTN098 19/12/2012 - Score 7/10. 'FTN089' 6/1/2013 - Score 7/10

FTN0420 Yellow Nectarine 13/11 A yellow flesh nectarine that is estimated to mature approximately a week after Zee Fire. Good balanced flavour with bleeding yellow flesh.

'FTN055' Yellow Nectarine 30/11 - Yellow flesh nectarine, good sweet flavour firm fruit, cling stone

'FTN042' Yellow Nectarine 6/12 Yellow flesh nectarine, sweet flavour, clingstone this one hopefully is the start of many that will help fill the maturity gap for yellow nectarines in this timeslot.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. White Nectarines FTN0711 17/12/2012 - Score 6.5/10 FTN053 17/12/2012 - Score 7/10 'FTN082' 17/12/2012 - Score 6.5/10 'FTN101' 21/12/2012 - Score 7/10 'FTN0716' 23/12/2012 - Score 7/10 'FTN097' 23/12/2012 - Score 6.5/10

'FTN053' White Nectarine 17/12- A white flesh nectarine that is estimated to mature approximately 15 days after Honey Blaze. This one looks as though it might fill a gap in the maturity season of white nectarines between Sweet River and Arctic Blaze and has delivered consistent results under testing. Exciting.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Plum and plum type Interspecifics Flavor Royale 29/11/2012 - Score 7/10 'Rubirosa' 3/12/2012 - Score 6.5/10 'FTIP084' 7/12/2012 - Score 7.5/10 'FTIP0412' 16/12/2012 - Score 6.5/10 'FTIP0814' 28/12/2012 - Score 6.5/10 'FTIP107' 29/12/2012 - Score 6.5/10 'Primetime' 11/1/2013 - Score 7/10 'FTIP085' 22/1/2013 - Score 6.5/10 'FTIP0818' 13/2/2013 - Score 7/10 'Black Kat' 13/2/2013 - Score 6/10 'Flavorfall' 20/3/2013 - Score 6.5/10

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Plum and plum type Interspecifics 'FTIP084' 7/12/2012 - Score 7.5/10 An interspecific plum with solid maroon colour, a rounded shape, and an average size of 67mm. Flesh is red with an initially crunchy yet soft and juicy texture, a balanced and slightly sweet flavour and an average Brix score of 17%. Average flower density and crop load are reported.

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Plum and plum type Interspecifics

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Apricot and apricot type Interspecifics FTIA086 1/11/2012 - Score 7/10 'Honey Rich' 9/11/2012 - Score 6/10 'FTIA074' 11/11/2012 - Score 7/10 'Wescot' 12/11/2012 - Score 7.5/10 'Escort' 20/11/2012 - Score 6/10

2013 Season highlights from the Evaluation Project. Apricot and apricot type Interspecifics 'Wescot' 12/11/2012 - Score 7.5/10 An interspecific apricot with a blushed, bright appearance, ovate shape and an average size of 56mm. Flesh is orange in colour, balanced and slightly sweet in flavour with a medium, juicy texture. Average Brix score of 14%. Average flower density and crop load reported for this season.

Time for me to Start Thinking My thoughts on Innovation Graham's Factree have a lot to offer: o Varieties that reduce cost of production o Varieties that can help to become a price setter

How we currently market Most growers send fruit to market and hope for the best Most fruit currently grown is a commodity Major retailers dominate the market We have NO say in price achieved Setting higher and higher quality standards Very difficult to be profitable, if at all

Two Innovative options Price setting varieties o Grower groups o Marketing partner o Restricted plantings Reduce cost of production o Innovative breeding o Reducing annual production inputs o Increase pack out

Planning a future planting Questions you need to ask yourself Will I plant existing varieties or new varieties? Where is your market - export or domestic? How will they be accepted? Who will market them? What price do you expect or more importantly, what price do you need? Will you partner with other growers? Are you prepared to work with a single marketer if required? How much investment will be required to launch the product if it's new? Will the new product require ongoing investment in

Price setting examples Jazz(TM) example by Montagues, Rowan to discuss on Friday o Price is set to all customers, all year o A grower group coordinated by grower / marketer Modi(TM) - fruit shown this morning o Price will be set to all customers, all year o A grower group including a marketer Rockit(TM) - a talk on Friday o Not sure of price structure but probably export focus based on NZ experience o A grower coop incorporating a marketer Kiku(TM) - It's just a Fuji o Not here in Australia, but popular in many other countries o Marketing and packaging

Innovation to reduce production inputs Independence TM almond example o Reduced pollination costs o Reduced harvest costs One pass harvest Reduced pollution Disease resistance o Less spraying Increase production per hectare o Use of rootstocks o More productive cultivars

Innovation to reduce production inputs(continued) Less picks o High coloured cultivars or sports o Improved rootstocks Increased packouts o High coloured cultivars or sports o Improved rootstocks

'Club' Opportunities SustainApples(TM) Isaaq(TM) apple Possibly future stages of Modi(TM) Honeycrisp apple Rubens apple Kiku apple Angelys pear

Scab Resistant Apples Lower inputs Better for the environment Organic becomes easier SustainApple TM

'SustainApple' TM Reduced carbon footprint from growing naturally disease resistant apples. (Up to 49%). (As measured in the Po Valley at sea level)

'Ariane' Apple Highly coloured, eats exceptionally well. Scab resistant.

'Ariane' Apple Part of a club in Europe.

'Dalinette' Choupette(TM) Apple Popular variety in Europe, Limited fruit seen in Australia.

'Crimson Crisp' 50 000 Trees per year sold in France. My personal favorite. Eats well, looks fantastic.

'Smerelda' 30 days earlier than Granny Smith. excellent flavour, high sugar content and elevated acidity. The taste is similar to Granny Smith but sweeter and more fragrant.

'Gaia' Larger than Gala, The flavour is good, very sweet, similar to Gala but with a more intense aroma.

'Gemini' Very attractive, big, larger than Gala. Uniform brilliant ruby red blush over almost the entire surface.

'Fujion' Similar to Fuji with an intense red colour and some stripes. It is round and slightly elongated, very regular and more consistent in size than Fuji. The flesh is crispy, juicy and intensely sweet, generally sweeter than Fuji. No biennial bearing.

ISAAQ(TM) Apple

Modi(TM) Apple

Honeycrisp Apple

Rubens Apple

Kiku(TM) Apple

Angelys(TM) Pear

'Independence' Almond Self Fertile Fruit quality similar to 'Nonpareil' Blossom time just before 'Nonpareil' Use as a pollinator or on its own. Fruit matures 2 days before 'Nonpareil', can be harvested together.

'Independence' Almond

Apples 'Jugala' 'Galaval' 'Auvil Early Fuji' 'Aztec Fuji'

'Jugala' Apple High Coloured Early Strain -7 Days of 'Buckeye' Potential of extending your gala season. Yet to see fruit in Australia but this summer we should start to see some fruit. Similar to 'Imperial Gala'

'Jugala' Maturity comparison with 'Mondial' (Imperial) Gala, picked same date.

'Jugala' Colour comparison with 'Mondial' (Imperial)Gala

'Galaval' Apple Very good colour, Same maturity as 'Buckeye' Seen one piece of excellent fruit in Australia but we should see more fruit this summer.

'Galaval' Colour comparison with 'Buckeye' Gala 1 week before harvest.

'Galaval' Comparison with 'Buckeye' Gala

'Auvil Early Fuji' 4 weeks earlier than 'Naga Fu No.2'.

'Aztec' Fuji Exceptional fuji variety Known around the world as the best coloured block Fuji.

'Aztec' Comparison with Fuji Rakuraku.

'Aztec' Colour comparison with Fuji Rakaraku

Apple Rootstocks 'Lancep' -Smaller than M.9 -Flat branch angles -Possible option for vigorous cultivars especially fuji's 'Cepiland' -Slightly larger than M'9 but smaller than 'M.26' -Improved colour and packouts -Calm trees

Apricot Types 'Westcot' Interspecific apricot Currently commercially available. Eats well, looks good, nice blush. -15 days of Santa Rosa. Good range of Apricots are currently in test and are going to be released shortly

Apricot Types 'Kylese-Cot' Interspecific apricot Should mature 7 days before Poppicot or 12 days before Earlicot A new self-fertile interspecific apricot which is drawing attention in the USA for its extra-early harvest, good size and attractive orange skin. It has only recently been released from Australian Quarantine. The orange freestone flesh has a balanced acidic-sweet flavor. Kylese-Cot has good storage and shipping characteristics.

Yellow Flesh Nectarines Honey May Spring Fire Honey Lite Honey Fire Honey Deeva

'Honey May' Nectarine Very Early Well received by the supermarkets

'Spring Fire' Nectarine Acid variety Coming into commercial production Good feedback from growers

'Honey Lite' Nectarine New good variety Just before christmas Very popular in the US Starting to be planted here

'Honey Fire' Nectarine Improves on Honey Blaze, No doubles or nubbins. Just before christmas.

'Honey Deeva' Nectarine Late Season, Sub Acid. Getting really good feedback.

White Flesh Nectaries 'Polar Light' 'Arctic Mist'

'Polar Light' Nectarine Very Early, Very popular, Good prices.

'Arctic Mist' Nectarine Reliable late season, Good size and colour. Matures after 'Arctic Snow'.

Yellow Flesh Peaches 'Super Zee' 'Super Lady' 'Sierrich' 'Royal Pride' 'Sweet Henry'

'Super Zee' Peach Earliest yellow peach. Low chill

'Super Lady' Peach Very early peach, heavy consistent crop

'Sierrich' Peach Before christmas, Good colour and size.

'Royal Pride' Peach Good size, colour and flavour. Really promising new variety.

'Sweet Henry' Peach Slightly later than O'Henry. Early stages of evaluation. Looks like a very nice peach. Taking off in WA after they received some test trees.

White Flesh Peaches 'Snow Angel' Rewards good grower practices, ie thinning, pruning, fertigation etc fruit. Low chill. Needs lots of thinning and up to 4 picks but is worth the work.

Stone fruit rootstocks 'Atlas' Good vigour Produces larger fruit Tolerant to lime-induced chlorosis Tolerance to root knot nematode Can delay harvest by 3 days 'GF677' Vigorous Tolerance to lime-induced chlorosis Susceptible to nematodes

Plums and Pluots 'Honey Punch' 'Black Kat' 'Fall Fiesta' 'Flavor Fusion'

Disclaimer. Information contained in this presentation is intended as a guide only and customers are reminded that growth and performance is dependant on a wide range of conditions beyond our control and we make no guarantee as to the suitability of any cultivar for any specific use nor do we recommend any one cultivar in preference to another or claim to be an authority on any one cultivar. All information is believed to be correct and is the result of private inquiries and experiences and is given in good faith. We disclaim all liability for loss suffered as a result of reliance on the matters set out in this presentation. The Plant Breeders Rights logo has been used in this presentation to indicate where PBR has been granted or applied for. I ran out of time to use it right throughout the presentation so not all cultivars that have PBR have the logo used. Also, we are yet to apply for PBR for many of the cultivars listed so if the logo is not used on a variety, it does not mean that it won't have PBR.

Thank you for your time I will have brochures here with me come and get one Website www.factree.com.au Call the office (03) 9999 1999