Fresh: Hybrid Produce
The word ‘hybrid’ usually makes us think of cars that run on gas and electric power. We almost never think of fruits and veggies when we hear that word, but hybrid produce is much more common than you’d think. A variety of fruits and vegetables have been crossbred to create entirely new fruits or vegetables. Some of these hybrids have only recently begun to gain popularity, as consumers are looking for more and more variety in the kitchen. While we love having new choices, we also have to ask a couple of questions when it comes to hybrids. How are they created? What hybrids are available to us?
Hybrid fruits and vegetables are created using “cross pollination” techniques. Cross pollination is when the pollen from one plant fertilizes another nearby plant. Hybridization occurs when these two plants are of different species. This process occurs randomly in nature at times but, when done in a lab can be used to bring two plants together to form a unique new plant. Techniques have been around for hundreds of years and are used in both plant and animal breeding.
The nectarine is an example of cross pollination occurring in nature. Genetically the nectarine is the same species as the peach. The nectarine is a “fuzzless” peach, not a cross between the plum and peach as many people believe. Sometimes nectarines even show up spontaneously on conventional peach trees. Trees that exclusively produce nectarines have been developed in order to meet consumer demand.
Baby broccoli is one of the most popular hybrid produce items ever created and is often referred to as Broccolini®. Broccolini is actually a registered trademark of Mann Packing Company of Salinas, California. Broccolini was developed in Japan but Mann, one of the world’s largest broccoli growers, has been marketing it in the U.S. under the name Broccolini since 1998. Broccoli
ni was created by crossing broccoli with gai lan, also known as Chinese kale. The resulting vegetable is a small stalk, resembling a sprig of asparagus that is very tender. Broccolini has a broccoli flavor with a slightly peppery edge to it. It is also very high in vitamin C and potassium while being low in calories. Broccolini is one hybrid that has enjoyed enormous success and continues to grow in popularity.
Commercially successful hybridization isn’t exclusive to vegetables; many hybrid fruits have been created too. At the forefront of hybrid fruit development is Zaiger Genetics in Modesto, California. The company’s founder, Floyd Zaiger, has been cross pollinating fruit trees for nearly 40 years and holds several U.S. plant patents. One of Zaiger’s most popular creations is the Aprium®. The Aprium is a cross between an apricot and a plum and resembles an apricot on the outside. The Aprium’s taste is truly unique with the plum and apricot flavors both well represented. The growing season for the Aprium is very short, lasting only from June to July, but as it becomes more popular this may be extended.
The type of work that Zaiger Genetics does involves very complex cross breeding techniques. Zaiger continues to work on new items that will influence the fruit and vegetable industry for years to come. One of the new items that they are currently developing are colored apricots which are created by combining apricots with other fruits like cherries. The resulting hybrid fruit will be red in color and have a unique flavor profile. Hybrids will continue to expand the options available to chefs and home cooks alike and shape the future of the produce industry.
