Moves by a New Zealand based company to commercialise three new dragon fruit varieties could present opportunities for growers in the Far North.
Scientists from Plant & Food Research have been working with partners at the Southern Horticultural Research Institute in Vietnam over the last decade on a joint dragon fruit breeding programme and have developed the new varieties.
New Zealand-based company VentureFruit has now joined the collaboration and obtained exclusive global commercialisation rights to the first three varieties from the programme.
All three are red-skinned and are described as having a sweeter, more aromatic flavour than current varieties and a crisp dense texture.
They are believed to be the first canker-tolerant dragon fruit to be commercialised. Canker is a highly destructive disease of dragon fruit.
VentureFruit chair Peter Landon-Lane said the company hoped to have 250 hectares of the new varieties planted by 2030.
“The idea of having some new, more pest and disease-tolerant varieties that eat better, have great colour, texture and better eating characteristics, we think that’s a real opportunity that might turn into a great addition to New Zealand’s horticulture scene.”
Fruit from the new varieties was expected to be available to consumers in 2027.
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