CHILE - VentureFruit®, the commercialization partner for the Hot Climate Partnership, is excited to announce a key achievement in the global expansion of TUTTI™, with the introduction of a new exclusive partner in Latin America. Copefrut S.A., a Chilean grower, packer, marketer, and exporter, has been appointed the exclusive license holder for TUTTI™ branded apples in Latin America, starting with 150 hectares to be planted in Chile. TUTTI™ is the world’s first apple specifically bred to tolerate hot climates.

Morgan Rogers, VentureFruit® General Manager, says Copefrut’s leadership in the industry and their commitment to innovative and sustainable practices, aligns perfectly with the TUTTI™ apple brand.

“Appointing Copefrut to licence the variety across Latin America is a major step forward in our goal of expanding the TUTTI™ apple program to 1,200 globally planted hectares by 2030,” says Rogers. “This is the first TUTTI™ licence granted outside of Europe since the apple’s launch in February 2023, and Copefrut’s initial 150 hectares in Chile will join the 260 hectares already licensed in Europe.”

Since 1955, Copefrut has been committed to harvesting quality fruit from Latin America and sharing it worldwide, a press release added.

Andres Fuenzalida, Copefrut’s General Manager, says “As part of our refreshed strategy, Copefrut is investing in new apple production with a strong focus on supplying our customers in Latin America. Selecting varieties that will perform well in an increasingly volatile climate is key for Copefrut as we continue to encounter warmer summers, and associated production challenges. Since first seeing the test blocks in Spain, we have been impressed with the Hot Climate Partnership and are absolutely delighted to be partnering with VentureFruit® and their global team to develop TUTTI™ apples in Chile and the wider Latin American market.”

“With changing global weather patterns and temperatures continuing to rise, innovative apple and pear varieties from the Hot Climate Partnership, such as TUTTI™, will provide growers and consumers with delicious and robust apples that have been specifically created for hot and warming climates,” Morgan Rogers explains. “TUTTI™ is a stand-out apple. It has been specifically bred to thrive in hot conditions, producing a deliciously light, crisp apple with bright red skin and a rounded sweet fresh flavour. TUTTI™ is expanding globally through a network of exceptional partners in a peer-to-peer collaboration. We are thrilled with the innovative variety’s remarkable progress in its first two years.”

Andes New Varieties Administration Chile® (ANA Chile®), as master testing licensee in South America, is responsible for the development of all Hot Climate Partnership apple and pear varieties on behalf of VentureFruit®, including TUTTI™. They will be integral to the ongoing development of TUTTI™ with Copefrut.

While Copefrut has secured the exclusive license to grow, sell and distribute TUTTI™ for Latin America, there are still licences available in other territories.

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