Page 54 - SA Fruit Journal VOLUME 14

Building at SAPO’s newoffices commenced at Fleurbaix farm in StellenboschDr PHilliP C FOuriE & ElSa MullEr info@saplant.co.zathe building contractors commenced with the new SaPO offices on 1 October 2014 and the offices will be ready for occupation on 30 June 2015.Since 1 January 2014 some of SAPO’s personnel are accommodated in temporary offices and others are in open spaces in the existing store. Currently all the personnel are trying to acclimatize to the noiseand disruptions, but everybody is positive that within the next eight months a peaceful and comfortable environment will be established.Alterations at the outside of the existing store.The new first floor inside the existing store. The temporary offices outside on the terrain.First Stone Fruit Exhibition of the2014/15 seasonOn the seventh of November the South African Plant Improvement Organisa- tion (SAPO Trust) together with four otherexhibitors held their first stone fruit exhibi- tion of the new season. The exhibition was attended by thirty eight people whom all have an interest in new stone fruit varieties. Everybody attending the exhibition had the opportunity to see, feel and taste the newest stone fruit varieties on offer. SAPO proudly showcased their new imported low chill va- rieties from the University of Florida in theruDi VOSUSA. The varieties on display, all peaches, were UF Sun, UF Beauty, UF Blaze, UF One, Flordabest and a variety from Mexico, Aztec Delight. These varieties all have non- melting flesh with an attractive red skin col- our which ripens as early as week 44. Every visitor is asked to fill in a simple scorecard of their findings of each variety. This gives the exhibitor an idea of the potential market opinions of the varieties. The overall opinion was encouraging and the varieties were well received.The venue where the exhibition is held every fortnight is at the Infruitec campus on the Agricultural Research Council’s premises in Stellenbosch. The dates and more informa- tion about the exhibitions, or if you want to be on the distribution list, please contact Rudi Vos per e-mail at rudi@saplant.co.zaINDUSTRY NEWS 51 FEB | MARCH 2015