The fruit industry has dramatically changed over the last 20 years, and IFG is celebrating the pioneering advancements it has brought to the world of fruit breeding. IFG showed that a table grape could be so much more, providing a new and interesting consumer experience with the Cotton Candy™ grape.

During the past 20 years, there has been a steady increase in the growth of proprietary fruit breeding programs and IFG has been very successful by placing a greater emphasis on consumer acceptance of their new varieties. With each step forward, IFG continues to secure its place in the agricultural space, and are proud to be a source of vision and advancement in the industry.

How fruit breeding has changed
Taking the table grape and making it not just an option at the store, but something that consumers seek out is a huge change in the industry. Until recently, most grape varieties were created with public funding and supported by universities and government agencies. There was little variety beyond the three main colors, and grapes were primarily bred for appearance or the ability to be stored for long periods of time. However, as consumer demand is changing with more sophisticated palates seeking out unique flavors, textures and experiences, the industry is undergoing a gradual shift to more proprietary programs and varieties. There have also been some major technological advances in the last 20 years that allow plant breeders to more quickly develop new varieties of fruit

Recent developments in table grapes and cherries
One of the interesting things that’s happened over the last 20 years is that IFG has increasingly placed the emphasis on breeding for consumer traits.

“This is a trend that is likely to continue for table grapes and other agricultural products. With the introduction of the Cotton Candy™ grape, we created a grape that was recognizable by name and taste,” explains Dr. Chris Owens, Lead Plant Breeder at IFG. “There’s a lot going on behind the scenes through the breeding process that leads to new varieties becoming available, and like the Cotton Candy™ grape, these breeding advancements will have a great effect on the industry. However, it’s a slow process as grapes and cherries are woody plants that take several years to come into bearing. There are several stages of testing, and each requires starting with young plants that you need to wait to bear fruit. It can take up to 10 years, at the fastest, for a new grape variety to be bred from scratch.