Currently there are more than 150 varieties under the management of Culdevco, which include varieties of apples, pears, plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots and table grapes, as well as apple and stone fruit rootstocks. All these varieties will be of great benefit to the South African Deciduous Industry as they have been specifically developed for South African growing conditions.

Commercial development of ARC-bred varieties have already made a significant impact on the South African Deciduous Fruit Industry. This impact is clearly reflected in the number of new cultivars that have been released to the Industry during the last 20 years, as well as the foreign exchange earned through exporting fruit of these cultivars to countries abroad. In total 10 pome (apples & pears) fruit, 11 table grape and 67 stone fruit cultivars have been released to the South African Deciduous Fruit Industry during this period. Foreign exchange earnings from stone fruit alone during 2005/2006 season exceeded R700 million. These cultivars represent about 72% of the South African foreign exchange earnings from stone fruit.

The development, release and marketing of new deciduous fruit cultivars worldwide is becoming an extremely competitive enterprise. To safeguard the intellectual property of the ARC and to keep the deciduous fruit industry competitive, the commercialisation of ARC-bred varieties has become an important goal for the South African Deciduous Fruit Industry. It was therefore important for this Industry to take the necessary steps to effectively control the volumes, fruit quality and selling prices for ARC-bred cultivars produced in foreign countries.

Culdevco therefore has a very important role to play in the marketing, protection and licensing of quality deciduous fruit varieties, not only in South Africa, but also worldwide. Culdevco aims to acquire varieties that have good potential for all different markets supplied by the South African Deciduous Fruit Industry and will also aim to help the ARC to direct its breeding programmes at prospective international markets.

Culdevco will utilise the services of the South African Plant Improvement organization to supply the best possible quality planting material to the industry.