By Lilian Schaer for AgInnovation Ontario Source: AgInnovationOntario
Vineland – The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland), driven by demand from nurseries and grape growers, is leading the charge to find new table grape varieties for the Ontario market.
To date, Ontario’s main homegrown fresh table grape is Sovereign Coronation, a semi-seedless blue grape that’s ready for market over a six to eight week period in late summer and early fall.
“It’s challenging to have such a short season with only one variety. That’s what led growers and nurseries to ask if there is anything else out there that could extend their season and provide retailers with different grapes,” explains Michael Kauzlaric, Technology Scout and Grower Outreach at Vineland.
That demand by Ontario grape growers prompted Vineland to begin scouting for varieties that could grow well in Ontario’s climate as well as meet taste, quality and appearance needs.
That means a seedless, sweet and crunchy fruit on a good sized bunch than can be offered to consumers at a reasonable price.
“We’ve been searching areas that have a similar climate to Canada because we need something that is easy to grow and cold tolerant and fits with the current infrastructure our growers are dealing with,” he says. “Something that matures in November, for example, won’t be a good candidate in Ontario.”
In 2014, Vineland brought in and planted certified virus-free budwood from six U.S. seedless grape cultivars – three green and three blue. The vines produced their first real fruit crops for evaluation this year.
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