What To Know About University of Minnesota’s Superior Fruit Innovations

The University of Minnesota has announced the launch of Superior Fruit Innovations (SFI), a new grower-focused licensing model. SFI is specifically designed to bring the university’s world-class new varieties to more growers and fruit lovers. For the first time, this model opens up exclusive University of Minnesota fruit varieties to direct-market growers who sell straight to consumers and local communities rather than through large distributors.

Designed especially for growers of all sizes, SFI provides access to premium apple and table grape varieties, celebrated for the superior flavor, texture, and color that consumers recognize and value in local food systems.

The launch of SFI is the next step in a program recognized as one of the top apple breeding and genetics research programs in the U.S. The apple breeding program began at the U of M in the late 1800s with the goal of developing cold hardy apples that are both high quality and high yielding—and ultimately led to the creation of legendary apple varieties with exceptional texture, including ‘Honeycrisp‘, ‘SweeTango’, and ‘First Kiss/RAVE’.

The U of M also is known as one of the top grape research programs in the country, with the goal of developing high quality, cold hardy wine and table grapes to benefit growers in Minnesota and the broader cold climate regions. The wine grape breeding program began in the mid-1980s. U of M breeders also are preparing to launch several delicious varieties of seedless table grapes over the next few years.

The U of M has a legacy of pioneering innovative release models for its fruit varieties. While these managed varieties have been successful, the wholesale fruit market is currently facing serious headwinds, including downward price trends, rising production costs, and oversupply.

In contrast, direct-market growers — who sell through orchards, CSAs, farm stands, and local markets — are more insulated from these pressures and are ideally positioned to capitalize on the U of M’s core breeding strengths.

“Superior Fruit Innovations is designed to meet this moment, connecting the U of M’s top-tier fruits, developed through years of world-class research, directly with the growers and consumers who value them most,” says Matt Clark, Associate Professor in the U of M’s Department of Horticultural Science and Director of research at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

For more information, visit superiorfruitinnovations.umn.edu.