In the European market, the Maribelle apple, known for its slightly sweet taste and green-yellow hue with a pink blush, stands out as the apple variety with the most lucrative returns over the past five years. Jan van Ingen, the general manager of the Dutch firm Treequattro which holds the rights to Maribelle, highlights that while the Kanzi apple may fetch the highest price per kilogram, Maribelle's superior yield and minimal juice diversion ensure a more profitable return per hectare. Maribelle's production significantly surpasses the European average, achieving between 80t/ha to 85t/ha, with instances of French farmers reaching up to 100t/ha, and less than 2% of its harvest being processed into juice.
Danie Heyns from the South African Plant Improvement Organisation Trust notes the potential benefits for South African growers, where a higher proportion of apples are juiced due to challenges such as sunburn. Maribelle's non-oxidative properties, which prevent flesh discoloration, make it ideal for fresh consumption and value-added products, as evidenced by its use in McDonald's salads. This variety also boasts low input requirements, resistance to common apple diseases, and vigorous growth, aligning with Treequattro's goals under the European Green Deal. However, Van Ingen cautions against overburdening young trees to ensure their development and longevity. In Europe, Maribelle thrives on dwarfing rootstocks due to the quality of soils, whereas South African farmers might need more vigorous rootstocks.
Source: farmersweekly.co.za