Dora is the new variety of russet apple developed by Rispe and Escande Nurseries. It is a cross between the Renetta Grigia di Torriana and GoldRush varieties, and it is the property of the Alma Mater Studiorum of the University of Bologna in Italy. This apple, designed by growers for growers, has already won over consumers. According to its creators, the Dora seems to have succeeded in combining both subtlety and simplicity. "It is an atypical variety, ideal for growers because it is easy to grow, hardy and abundant. It is also very juicy and crunchy, taste qualities that meet consumer requirements and have been very well received so far," according to Sébastien Rispe.
An atypical yellow apple on a market of two-tone varieties
Rispe and Escande Nurseries decided to develop this new variety because Dora has several assets. "The main objective is to find atypical fruit with a good taste, which stands out and has a good shelf life. Dora ticks all the boxes: harvested at the end of September in the south of France for long storage, and at the beginning of October for immediate consumption, Dora keeps for 6 months in normal cold storage and over 6 months in a controlled atmosphere. The fact that it is golden is another differentiating feature in a sector dominated by two-tone apples," explains Monika Kujundzic, communications manager at Sarl Dora. "Bringing out a golden russet apple may go against the flow, but it is definitely this variety that they have fallen for. Among russet apples, something really needed to be done. Dora arrives on the market with organoleptic and technical qualities that existing varieties do not have. We have already had the opportunity to taste it for the end consumer and have had some very good feedback. It is a fascinating apple, with a good size. It is juicy, crispy but not hard, and very tasty with a good sugar/acid balance. We are now testing its potential in the kitchen and cannot wait to see how it performs."
A productive variety that is easy to grow
For producers, the idea was to offer an apple that was simple to grow, easy to access, and with a good yield. "To win over the grower, it was important that the apple was easy to grow and productive. The only point worth emphasizing is that the first harvest comes in the third leaf, not the second." Sébastien Rispe and Benoît Escande have been testing Dora in their Moissac orchards since 2019. Nearly 10 hectares have already been planted and grafted, with production expected to reach 120 tons in 2024 and 250 tons in 2025. The crop has been validated both agronomically and technically, with excellent keeping qualities and low susceptibility to scab - confirmed by CEFEL - and ash aphid. French nurseries have acquired exclusive rights throughout Europe.
An easily accessible sector
While Dora is intended to be a simple variety to produce, Rispe and Escande Nurseries also want this new apple to be easy to access. "We wanted to set up a Dora quality channel with approved growers and distributors who will have to follow a few rules: plant or graft a minimum of one hectare, be Global GAP certified, and pay the channel an annual fee based on the size of the plot. We want Dora to be a chain that is easy to integrate, accessible to growers, easy to understand and that adds value as simply and quickly as possible. In other words, a turnkey variety for growers.
To ensure the successful launch of MD02UNIBO* - Dora, close collaboration with the University of Bologna was essential, as Professor Tartarini, one of the breeders of Dora, points out. "We immediately recognized the exceptional characteristics of this variety, and as the University of Bologna, we worked closely with Rispe and Escande to ensure the best possible distribution and promotion of the variety to the market and society."
Dora plants are already available for winter 2025 and the variety will be officially presented at Fruit Logistica in Berlin from February 5-7th, 2025. A launch cocktail party will be held on Thursday, February 6th at 5 pm at booth C31, Hall 6.
For more information:
Monika Kujundzic
SARL Dora
2788 route de la Mégère
82200 Moissac - France
Phone: +33 (0)5 63 04 01 06
Mobile: +33 (0) 6 62 02 77 15