WA Farm Direct and N&A Group have launched the Ondine™ series of flat peach and flat nectarine varieties in the Australian market this week with larger volumes available through select retailers for the first time this year.
The Ondine™ series is an exciting new addition to the stone fruit category, with a perfect flavour balance of high sugar and low acid, vibrant coloured skin and a unique flat shape.
The varieties were originally developed in France by the Maillard family of ASF. The late director Arsene, and his wife Laurence Maillard has dedicated the last 25 years to developing new fruit varieties that satisfy rigorous selection criteria, and have fostered a reputation for their products as having only the most desirable eating characteristics, as well as favourable production and marketing characteristics, thanks to these selection criteria.
Jenny Mercer of WA Farm Direct believes Ondine™ has the ideal set of characteristics needed to draw new customers to the Stonefruit category.
“Ondine™ is perfectly positioned to capture new customers from the families and gourmet snacking markets," she explains. "Its size profile and unique flat shape make it an ideal snack fruit, being easier to hold than conventional round peaches or nectarines. Its exceptional flavour and unusual appearance mean it can also be positioned as a gourmet snacking product. Another key differentiator is the extended supply window that Ondine™ offers. Ondine™ will be available from December through until March, giving consumers more opportunities each season to try the variety for the first time, and then to come back and purchase it again."
Australian commercial plantings of Ondine™ are still relatively young, at just two years old, and after some extreme weather events during the growing season, the group has decided to focus the entire volume on domestic markets.
“Australian-grown Ondine™ will be available through domestic sales channels exclusively this year,” Rob Cathels of N&A Group said. "With select retailers now stocking Ondine™, there will be more opportunities for Australia to try an Ondine™ flat peach or nectarine this year."
As the Australian production base continues to expand, the group believe that there will be significant future demand for Ondine™ in many of Australia’s export markets for Stonefruit. Around 2,500ha of Ondine™ flat peach and flat nectarines have been planted worldwide, with production spread across Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Chile, South Africa and Australia.
Justin Shield
WA Farm Direct
Phone: +61 448 367 421
[email protected]
www.wafarmdirect.com.au