FreshPlaza carries a very upbeat feature on Citrogold, a member of the Biogold International group of companies. Citrogold is based in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The company is praised for pioneering the establishment of the first “grower clubs” within South Africa’s citrus industry. These take the form of associations, cooperatives or companies formed by producers for particular plant variety groupings. Citrogold is also involved in IP management. The company
New fruit varieties are generally a far less fashionable and eye-catching area of IP than high-tech, telecoms and pharmaceuticals -- but the long-term benefits in terms of profitability and developing national areas of excellence and expertise are potentially immense, particularly when they can be buttressed by plant varieties protection, trade marks and protected geographical indication status."... manages the rights to the Nadorcott, Mor and Orri mandarins in South Africa. ... In addition to its late-ripening mandarin initiative, Citrogold has also introduced a number of new citrus varieties to the industry: early maturing clementines, seedless lemons and late hanging summer navels.
When it comes to commercialisation, Citrogold is the preferred partner of the majority of leading citrus and subtropical international research institutions. This is because the company is professional and has a highly integrated and effective approach to commercialising new products.
New varieties are introduced into South Africa, evaluated over a lengthy period before the best products are chosen for commercial application. Citrogold has not only invested in breeding programs but also has a program to identify promising mutations within the field and partners with local breeders.
A number of new improved varieties will soon be commercially available. These include a sweet Star ruby-like grapefruit ... called Flamingo, an exceptionally delicious mandarin called Valley Gold and a red internal-coloured navel with an external blush, named Kirkwood Red.
The company is also involved in the subtropical and exotics industry with the introduction of new mango, macadamia, litchi, passion fruit, pomegranate, as well as fig selections. ...The company is also involved in the introduction of new technology to other African countries. Projects are already underway in Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Namibia Swaziland and Mozambique".
