Red 'Hot' apple designed to flourish in warner climates

The first apple to be commercially released from the Hot Climate Program is receiving rave reviews from growers in Italy, France and the UK, after a series of evaluations in 2020.

A group of selected growers and marketers are reporting that ‘HOT84A1’ is growing well, and features an attractive, rich red color with excellent texture and a sweet taste. Growers have also discovered that the apple performs equally as well in temperate climates, as it does in hot climates.

“This is an exciting find and proves that this apple is well suited to many different geographies” says Gary Wellwood, T&G’s Global Variety Development Manager. “It opens up further opportunities for growers in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres and provides an opportunity for year-round supply.”

Gary says in the Northern hemisphere, the variety blooms in mid-April with harvest timing in late September - early October. This places ‘HOT84A1’ in market approximately two weeks earlier than Fuji, meaning that consumers get to experience this variety on supermarket shelves for longer.

He says although COVID 19 has restricted the ability to hold fruit evaluation sessions this season, there has still been strong interest.

“Our European representative is organizing tasting events in Spain, Italy, France and other locations.  If we can’t get the people to the fruit, we will organize to get the fruit to the people!” Gary says.

Jeremy Linsell, Worldwide Fruit UK, Technical Development Manager says ‘HOT84A1’ has performed well in testing in the United Kingdom. UK-grown fruit was tested by leading retailers and consumers in the UK with the sweet apple being highly rated and given very positive feedback.

In its second year as strategic commercialization partner for the Hot Climate Program, T&G Global has made good progress with the first variety under license. 

‘HOT84A1’ is being planted in commercial volumes in Catalonia, Spain. Fruit Futur, partners in the Hot Climate Program, have committed to a planting program over the next six years in an effort to provide consumers with fruit of great color and exceptional flavor and texture.   

Spanish growers are eager to mitigate the effects of hot summer temperatures on the quality of their apple crop and have jumped at the chance to access this variety. 

Interest in the variety has been strong. ‘HOT84A1’ trees are being circulated globally, and in 2021 T&G Global, together with its material services provider, Dalival, will begin planting further test blocks throughout Europe.  

Planting of test trees for evaluation in Australia, the USA and South Africa are expected within a few years.

Any expressions of interest can be directed to Gary Wellwood at T&G Global at gary.wellwood@tandg.global.

The Hot Climate Program (HCP) is one of the world’s most exciting global breeding programs designed to tackle challenges associated with growing apples and pears in a warming climate, such as sunburn, reduced color and softer textures.

It was initiated in 2002 by Plant & Food Research and IRTA to address challenges that were being experienced by Spanish growers, particularly those of the Catalan region. In 2019, T&G Global joined Plant & Food Research, the Institute of Agriculture and Food Research Technology (IRTA) and Fruit Futur as the strategic commercialization partner, bringing exciting new apple and pear cultivars from the program to the world.