Plant & Food Research in New Zealand and the Southern Horticultural Research Institute (SOFRI) in Vietnam have been working together since 2013 to breed new varieties of dragon fruit with excellent grower and consumer characteristics. VentureFruit™, T&G Global’s IP management and commercialisation company, has joined the collaboration with exclusive global commercialisation rights to the first three varieties from the program.
Now, the first new varieties from the joint dragon fruit breeding program are set to be launched to the global marketplace. All new varieties are red-skinned, with a sweeter, more aromatic flavor than current varieties, and with a crisp dense texture. The varieties vary in flesh color, one with the traditional white flesh most commonly seen, a unique pink-fleshed variety, and a dark, appealing red-fleshed variety. The varieties are believed to be the first canker-tolerant dragon fruit to be commercialized.
Vietnam is the largest dragon fruit supplier in the world and the fruit is highly sought by Asian consumers, despite being native to Central and South America. Vietnam produces around 1 million tons of dragon fruit a year, and increased its production area from 10,000 hectares in 2010 to more than 50,000 hectares by 2018.
Source: tandg.global