Cultivar Development

Stargrow is a member of an international consortium consisting of leading nurseries, and has license agreements with cultivar development groups in the USA, Canada, Europe, Chile, Australia and New Zealand. The fact that it also has its own breeding program and ongoing selection of field mutations ensures that it has continuous access to a wide range of new cultivars developed and released globally for exclusive commercialization.

Stargrow Cultivar Development has exclusive rights to more than 100 fruit cultivars, comprising apples, pears, peaches, apricots, cherries and berries. It also has skilled employees specialized if the fields of plant breeding, evaluation, plant propagation. plant pathology, plant importation and protection and registration of cultivars. The company benefits from the royalty payments made on the sale of plant material and fruit of its exclusively owned cultivars.

Stargrow Cultivar Development joins together the knowledge and experience of breeding, growing and commercialization of new varieties and its unique features include:   

  • Sourcing and breeding program for new varieties
  • Wide range of existing cultivars
  • Global marketing partnership

 

How does Stargrow Cultivar Development operate?

New cultivars are acquired from local or overseas breeding programs and through the process of field mutations. Through its international network Stargrow is able to negotiate with owners of new varieties for the exchange or purchase of theses. 

  • In this way new cultivars enter the process of formal evaluation and commercialization both in South Africa and wherever Stargrow has rights for such new cultivars. 

 

How does Stargrow obtain their new cultivars?

1. Its own breeding program which emphases on the following main criteria

Stone fruit

  • Low chilling requirements
  • Good colour development
  • Good taste
  • Good storing ability
  • A follow-up series of selections from very early to late
  • Good constant productions
  • Disease resistant

 

Table Grapes

  • A follow-up series of selections from very early to late
  • Seedless
  • Natural berry size
  • Good taste
  • Good production
  • Inherent to our climate
  • Disease resistant
  • Red, white and black selections
  • Natural strong grape attachment

 

Table Grapes

  • Good productions
  • Good unpack %
  • Attractive appearance
  • Unique taste
  • Good storage ability
  • Blush selections

 

2. Follow-up of new mutations 

  • Follow-up on branch and tree mutations
  • Follow-up on accidental seedling mutations
  • Follow-up on improved clones

 

3. Import of promising new selections and cultivars

  • Identifying new selections and varieties
  • Import of new selections and varieties
  • Evaluation of new selections and varieties