Flash Gala comes from Bigbucks

With 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. 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 fruit brands such as Pink Lady, the improved Cripps Pink strain.

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.

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According to Calla du Toit, chair of the Bigbucks Growers Association and chair of The Pink Lady Growers Association, this find is the kind of reward that makes a lifetime of walking orchards in search of the perfect fruit, worthwhile.

Rawbone-Viljoen says the process to arrive at a brand name was a long one. The idea behind Flash Gala is that it will be sold in a flash and also that the bright red colour of the fruit is like a flash of light.

Corder is among the first who have planted Bigbucks trees.

He says the unique pink or red mid-rib on the leaf is used to identify the variety after the fruit has been harvested.

Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, the largest exporter of South African apples and pears, has the rights to sell Flash Gala along with others.

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