ZOUK 17

Belgian Breeding for Commercial Orchards: ZOUK 17

Finding a variety that combines large fruit size, exceptional taste, and high resistance to major fungal diseases is a significant challenge. The Belgian company Zouk Bvba has introduced "ZOUK 17," an autumn apple variety focused on farmers who value the balance between high yields and commercial appeal.

Key Advantages

• Weight and Caliber: Fruits reach 250–300 grams, placing them in the premium category for the fresh market. Their round-cylindrical shape and vibrant marble blush on a yellowish-green background make the variety highly attractive on store shelves.
• Phytosanitary Reliability: Genetic resistance to apple scab significantly reduces the pesticide load on the orchard, while high resistance to powdery mildew simplifies maintenance in humid regions.
• Consumer Quality: The light-cream flesh with a tasting score of 4.5/5 sets ZOUK 17 apart from other autumn varieties. Furthermore, the fruits maintain their freshness for 6–7 months under proper storage conditions, an excellent benchmark for the autumn group.

Who is this variety for?

ZOUK 17 is the ideal choice for owners of intensive and traditional orchards serving the retail sector. Due to the tree's high vigor, the variety requires professional crown management and regular pruning, but it rewards growers with stable yields of large, quality apples. Good winter hardiness makes it suitable for regions with temperate climates where trees must withstand significant winter temperature fluctuations.

If you are looking for a replacement for older, scab-prone varieties or want to update your autumn inventory with a long-storage cultivar, this Belgian hybrid developed by Johan Nicolai and Zouk B.V. will become a dependable workhorse for your agricultural business.