Bakersfield, Calif.-based fruit-breeding company Bloom Fresh International has added to its Candy Snaps line.
The newly patented table grape varietal, known as IFG Forty-one, will enhance the Candy Snaps experience by extending its availability in retail stores for several more weeks during the early-to-midsummer season, according to a news release. Bloom Fresh was created by the merger of SNFL Group (Special New Fruit Licensing) and International Fruit Genetics LLC (IFG).
Originally introduced as IFG Twenty-one in 2011, Candy Snaps has consistently delighted consumers as an early-season table grape, the release said. Bloom Fresh said that through its commitment to natural breeding and genetics research, IFG Forty-one now ensures that fans of this strawberry-flavored red grape variety can enjoy its taste for an extended duration.
With a familiar round, oval shape and a crunchy texture, IFG Forty-one boasts the tropical flavors and delightful undertones of strawberry, pineapple and melon that Candy Snaps enthusiasts adore, the release said.
Breeder Chris Owens, the driving force behind this innovation, said that the new variety took years of research.
“Our journey to develop this new variety has been marked by unwavering dedication and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” Owens said in the release. “We are immensely proud to offer consumers an extended Candy Snaps season, thanks to the extraordinary capabilities of IFG Forty-one.”
Jennifer Maguire, director of global licensing at Bloom Fresh, said the variety will serve growers well.
“Candy Snaps grapes have long been cherished by consumers, but their availability has been limited by an early harvest window,” Maguire said in the release. “With the introduction of IFG Forty-one, growers now have the opportunity to supply these delectable grapes under the Candy Snaps brand for an extended period of time. This is a game-changer for our industry, offering both varietal popularity and more options for improved growing results.”
