Page 18 - October freshletter_UK

16 FRESHLETTER

“ITUM PROGRAM TO CONTINUE

TO CREATE GRAPES SO PRODUCTIVE,

EARLY AND ADJUSTABLE”

Mr. Diego Bustos, Head of the Vineyard Division of the A.N.A.
CHILE, which has acquired the rights to distribute the ITUM table
grapes in the Southern Hemisphere, speaks to Froutonea about
the excellent outcomes shown by the Spanish varieties, both in the
cultivation and post-harvest phase.

post-harvesting behavior, while Itum12
stands out among the black varieties, as
ripening at medium period and it is very ef-
DIEGO BUSTOS ficient, crisp and easily managed.
Generally, in the Southern Hemisphere
HEAD OF THE VINEYARD DIVISION the ITUM varieties are grown in Chile, Peru,
OF THE A.N.A. CHILE Brazil, South Africa and Australia.

In general, how would you character-
ize their organoleptic characteristics?
Mr. Bustos, how long have you been All their features are of excellent quality.
working with the ITUM grape variet- It is important to remember that the ITUM
ies, which ones have you selected and program was created in collaboration with
in which countries in the Southern producers, so the criterion for approving a
Hemisphere have you licensed them? variety must be in line with the aspirations
We have been working in the fields of the partners, i.e. the producers.
on ITUM grapes for three seasons. The Crisp texture is a key selection criterion,
2016/2017 season was the first to devel- so any variety of this program is at least as
op these new varieties in the experimen- crisp as Crimson, if not more. The diameter
tal fields of the A.N.A. CHILE in Chile and of the grape easily exceeds 20mm, reach-
Peru, and from the 2017/2018 season, be- ing 22-23, while they are juicy and have a
gan production on large scale at the Evalu- very pleasant taste, balancing the acidity
ation Centers, with producers working with with the sweetness.
export companies licensed under the rele- In addition, the ITUM program includes
vant program. varieties of traditional flavors, such as
All these seasons have confirmed the the Muscat type, where the Itum15 vari-
productive power and easy cultivation ety, which is harvested at the beginning of
management of the ITUM varieties, which the season, at Flame dates, is attractive,
transcend traditional varieties. bright red and mildew resistant.
In Chile are developed the varieties
Itum5, Itum6, Itum7, Itum8, Itum9, Itum10
and Itum12. They are all in the commercial The grape Itum7
phase, with the Itum6 variety notable for
its high productivity, crunchy texture and
late harvest, almost a month after Thomp-
son, as well as its good size and post-har- The grapes of the ITUM program have excellent post-harvest
vest behavior. behavior, as they withstand up to 90 days of reservation in
The Itum7 also stands out for its bright
red color, crunchy texture and good fridges, they do not dissolve and maintain their crispness

OCTOBER 2019