By Valley Ag Voice Staff
Nestled in the heart of Wasco, California, Sun World International’s research facility buzzes with activity year-round, dedicated to crafting the future of fruit — most notably, table grapes.
According to Paola Barba, one of the lead table grape breeders, Sun World is not just growing fruit, they are creating it. Within Sun World’s labs, breeders analyze DNA and meticulously extract embryos from seedlings. Barba explained that seedless varieties are a consumer favorite.
“It’s not much [Genetic Modification] or anything like that — it’s very natural,” Barba said. “But what we do is we pick those seeds before they start to build up. So when you ear grapes, sometimes you see a small trace of seeds – that was bugger at some point. And that’s what we use to create new grapes.”
The journey from initial selection to commercialization is rigorous. Each year, the team sifts through around 50,000 potential candidates, gradually narrowing down to a handful of promising varieties. These selected few undergo extensive testing for taste, texture, size, and crucially, how well they fare in various climates — a global consideration with trials spanning over 16 countries.
One promising candidate was commercialized in four countries last year — Ruby Rush — and it continues to fare well in the Central Valley’s growing conditions as well as in Italy, Spain, and Israel.
“We need to breed something that’s grower-friendly in a sense and that can make them money in the end,” Dané Joubert, senior marketing manager at Sun World, said. “But on the other side is the consumer, and the consumer needs to want to buy it, it needs to look good, and it also has to be able to last.”
For its part, Ruby Rush has been growing in popularity among growers and consumers alike. The variety is less labor-intensive than other table grapes as they have looser clusters negating the need to hand-cut them.
“You need to pay people to go and do that, so the new varieties like this one are naturally loose,” Barba said. “But if you take like a traditional variety, like a wine grape, it’s really tight, and the growers don’t want that anymore because labor is expensive and the other issue is the opportunity because sometimes you need people to do the work and you don’t have that.”
While Ruby Rush is only commercialized in four countries, it is being tested in more areas and is expected to become available in several more countries. Joubert explained that the process is extensive to ensure that a variety will be a positive investment.
“We have a technical team and they’re located in every single country, so they are there to support the grower…we learn the variety, we see if it works. And we’ve seen with this one specifically, it can adapt to harsh conditions,” Joubert said.
The goal, Joubert explained, is to have Ruby Rush available at retailers year-round with the same flavor and texture, ensuring it becomes a consumer staple.
Aside from its innovative breeding program, Joubert explained that the new theme for Sun World is “What’s Next?”
“For example, we’re always traditionally doing stone fruit and table grapes, and last year we acquired a mango variety,” Joubert said. “We’re also looking at citrus and then any other potential crops that we feel are underserved.”
As Sun World continues to expand its breeding portfolio and brand identity, it is hosting a mid-season field day in Bakersfield on Aug. 22.
For more information about Sun World’s latest developments and future events, visit Sun World International’s website or contact marketing@sun-world.com.
