AJ summarizing the cycle from A to Z: “Pruned at the same time as their Early Sweet, the ARRA Honey Pop showed very good and uniform budbreak, then bunch selections was done, no thinning was applied and only one sizing spray was done. The variety withstood 180mm of rain from flowering to date, and reached Brix between 16 and 17.“
The Topfruit team concludes: “All the growers that attended, most of whom already have orders in for plants, have no doubt that this is the right variety for this region”.
Shachar Karniel, ARRA Varieties Breeder highlights: “It is key to emphasize that on top of all of the above strengths, ARRA Honey Pop also improves the success of the growers and lowers the common risks that confront the producers. Shorter cycle varieties are becoming more and more important to the growers. ARRA Honey Pop has a natural budbreak of two weeks later than Early Sweet, but is ready for harvest at the same time, how is this even possible?.
The secret is the shorter cycle: while Early Sweet™ has a budbreak to harvest time of about 130 days, ARRA Honey Pop goes through this cycle in about 112 days. This allows the growers to manage common risks much better such as rain and heat waves, part of today’s constant climate change. Moreover, a shorter cycle require substantially less quantities of water, pesticide, and fertilizer, offering to the growers economic and environmental advantages”.