Guidelines of Questions to Ask Before Planting of a New Stone Fruit Variety in Your Area
- Can a specific variety be planted legally?
- Are the cold-storage results of the cultivar available for a number of years and where and by whom was it done?
- Is there a market and where is the market for this specific cultivar’s fruit?
- Are the fruit characteristics such as colour, aroma, flavour, and taste as well as storage capability better than an existing variety in the same harvesting timeslot?
- Does a similar existing variety with cheaper planting material achieve similar results?
- What are the horticultural characteristics and desired requirements for the cultivar, e.g. required chilling units, production requirements, need for cross pollination, susceptibility to disease, recommended rootstock(s), fruit size, etc.
- Are the producer’s farm conditions ideal for the variety?
- Has the prescribed rootstock been tested in different conditions, e.g. soil types and area?
- Does the cultivar ripen in the peaks of the production period and does it have niche value even if it ripens during peak periods?
- Are there any restrictions on planting or sales volume of the variety?
- Are there any restrictions regarding the sales channels that can be used as well as the markets that can be targeted with the variety.
Remember: An informed producer is well positioned to make good long term decisions