Apricot growers will form a company to handle the release of new varieties developed in a summerfruit breeding programme.
The grower cooperative will give growers total ownership of the unique new cultivars, managing their planting and release.
The summerfruit breeding programme, a joint initiative of Plant and Food Research and Summerfruit New Zealand, is trialling late-variety apricot cultivars and a low-chill apricot.
Summerfruit New Zealand chairman Gary Bennetts says growers will pay a $2 royalty to the co-op for every new tree they plant and an annual levy of $500 per hectare to fund the research.
