Early market access of Forelle pears to EU market using SmartFreshSM and targeted maturity fruit

The commercial roll-out of the Forelle Early Market Access (FEMA) programme saw the successful export and sales to offshore markets of five containers in 2011, 334,337 (12.5 kg equivalent) cartons in 2012 and 754,356 cartons in 2013, with NO NEGATIVE FEEDBACK or COMPLAINTS. This volume is set to increase in 2014, and so it is of vital importance to continue with input from ExperiCo, along with strict protocols enforced by the FEMA area monitors.

2011

• Five containers of Forelle were successfully exported to the UK and Continent and samples assessed for consumer preference.
• This first export trial confirmed that Forelle pears can be successfully marketed in the EU, with minimum storage duration of 4 weeks, provided that the fruit are of a more advanced maturity at time of harvest, and are subjected to a postharvest application of SmartFresh^SM to delay ripening and mask mealiness.
• Early Forelle orchards were successfully selected and fruit exported to the United Kingdom and Europe by marketing week 15.
• Fruit were sold and received no complaints regarding firmness or taste from Germany. Sainsbury, in the UK, however, received some complaints related to astringency and fruit that did not soften, highlighting the importance of correct target markets and fruit promotions.
• Consumer sensory evaluations were successfully carried out in the UK and Germany and results indicated general acceptance to the crisper, sweet Forelle pear.
• Holdback samples examined in South Africa after 4, 8 and 12 weeks RA storage clearly showed that SmartFresh^SM was effective in preventing mealiness by delaying ripening of the fruit during the shelf- life period.
• Control fruit cold stored for less than 12 weeks exhibited unacceptable levels of mealiness and sensory evaluations indicated a preference for the SmartFresh^SM treated fruit.

2012

• ExperiCo aided in the co-ordination of orchard selection and quality assessment of samples at packing to improve the commercial roll-out of the FEMA programme, with the main objectives of providing acceptable eating quality Forelle to offshore markets from week 14, and with the added benefit of smoothing marketing peaks during the season.
• ExperiCo’s involvement included the monitoring, selection and release of orchards in co-operation with Hortec®, collecting fruit samples at time of packing, assessing SmartFresh^SM efficacy, packing maturity, a prediction test for ripening and mealiness potential, and fruit quality after 4 weeks cold storage, with emphasis on incidence of mealiness and astringency. Also Market feedback from UAE and UK
• 2012 FEMA Programme successfully exported ± 334,337 cartons worldwide. Very positive feedback across Continents with different eating preferences. Need to address certain issues around PLU labelling for certain countries. Forelle “Crisp & Sweet” range identified as becoming a preferred Need to assess switchover between early “Crisp & Sweet” fruit, and later “Sweet & Juicy” fruit. Market feedback indicated continued need to target correct markets according to eating preferences. Market feedback indicated demand for increased volumes. New harvest recommendations to FPA
• ExperiCo to continue as gatekeeper for FEMA Programme, but with extensive orchard sampling and emphasis placed on assessing limits of harvest release criteria.

2013

• ExperiCo aided in the co-ordination of orchard selection and quality assessment of samples at packing to improve the commercial roll-out of the FEMA programme, with the main objectives of providing acceptable eating quality Forelle to offshore markets from week 14, and with the added benefit of smoothing marketing peaks during the season.
• ExperiCo’s involvement included the monitoring, selection and release of orchards in co-operation with Hortec®, collecting fruit samples at time of packing, assessing SmartFresh^SM efficacy, packing maturity, and fruit quality after 4 weeks cold storage, with emphasis on incidence of mealiness and
• 165 FEMA orchards were monitored. The means of all maturity parameters fell within the minimum FEMA standards. Individual firmness measurements indicated about 50% of samples above the release criterion of 6.0 kg. The Elgin/Vyeboom and Langkloof samples were more compliant in flesh firmness (50.8 and 1%) compared to Ceres (22.2%). Skin ground colour compared favourably with the release criteria (>93% compliance). Compliance for sugar content was only ±60% which was substantially lower than 2012 data (±90%). About 16%, of the samples indicated some degree of astringency at packing, compared to 22% in 2012. Ceres fruit exhibited less astringency compared to Elgin and Langkloof fruit. Mealiness did not occur after storage. SmartFresh^SM therefore effectively delayed ripening and effectively prevented the expression of mealiness.
• ExperiCo to continue as gatekeeper for FEMA Programme, but with reduced random orchard sampling and emphasis placed on getting market feedback from Far East, North American and Canadian markets.