FLASH GALA ™
set to disrupt the fruit industry
Brian Berkman
W
ith over a quarter of a million trees
already purchased, Bigbucks, the
improved Corder Gala apple strain,
is now the most successful new
variety in terms of orders placed in the history
of the South African Plant Improvement
Organisation since launch date. Named after
Buks Nel, Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing’s New
Variety Expert, and a fruit industry veteran,
Plant Breeder’s Rights were awarded to
Bigbucks’ owners, Pink Vein (Pty) LTD. That
company comprises Buks Nel, Derek Corder,
the grower who discovered Corder Gala, and
Anthony Rawbone-Viljoen on whose Oak
Valley Estate the strain was found.
Now, after a lengthy process of name
selection, a brand name for the fruit is
confirmed. Today, FLASH GALA ™, the
trademarked fruit of Bigbucks trees, joins
other global top fruit brands such as Pink
Lady, the improved Cripps Pink strain and
is poised to disrupt the global fresh fruit
industry.
The sweet spot for FLASH GALA ™ is the
high packout percentage. This means that
more purchase-ready fruit from one tree
can be picked at one time than many other
commercially grown apple or pear varieties.
“It all started on the afternoon of 18 January
2011, one of those few very hot days in Elgin. It
was the deep wine-red colour that first caught
my eye”, explains Buks Nel, “And the fact that
unlike most Gala strains which are unstable
deep within their souls, this one remains true
to type. Reversion to the original poorer bi-
coloured mutations is a negative characteristic
that occurs relatively often. Galas are, on the
other hand, also very prone to mutate into
better coloured clones. Therefore, reversions
(negative) and mutations (positive) are as
much part of Gala strains as brandy is to Coke.
Derek Corder, Anthony Rawbone-Viljoen and Buks Nel
AgriKultuur |AgriCulture
Flash Gala on the Big Bucks tree
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