STELLAR™ (‘HOT81A1’), a next-generation apple variety specifically bred for hot and warming climates, has been recognised with a Silver Award in the SIVAL Varietal Innovation Competition for 2026 in Angers, France, marking a significant international milestone for the resilient variety.
The SIVAL Innovation Competition recognises new varieties that demonstrate tangible benefits to meet sector challenges across sustainability, grower economics, production performance and market relevance.
STELLAR™ apples. Photo credit: IRTA
Morgan Rogers, VentureFruit General Manager, said the Silver Award reflects the strength of the development and performance of this variety, bringing together multiple expert partners to address real-world production challenges in hot climates.
“STELLAR™ demonstrates what’s possible when rigorous breeding, evaluation and evidence-based development are combined with a clear focus on grower challenges. As climate pressures increase, we’re proud to be the exclusive commercialisation partner within the Hot Climate Partnership. This programme is unlocking the full potential of new and innovative varieties that balance production reliability with exceptional eating quality – and this is just the beginning of what we’re developing in response to future climate and production pressures,” says Morgan.
STELLAR™ apple trees were specifically bred to perform in hot and warming growing conditions where traditional apple varieties increasingly struggle. While high summer temperatures can compromise colour development, cause heat stress and lead to crop losses, STELLAR™ delivers attractive, uniform and stable colour without skin burn or internal damage, providing growers with a more reliable early-season crop in challenging climates.
Harvesting around 7–10 days ahead of Gala, STELLAR™ combines early maturity with excellent eating quality, no known susceptibility to key diseases or pests, and consistent on-orchard performance. These characteristics make it a valuable option for warm production regions, enabling growers to bring forward harvest and marketing windows while protecting quality, yield and profitability under increasing climate pressure.
Florian Guidat, Project Development Manager for Dalival, receiving the silver award.
Following a rigorous global evaluation and selection process, IFO was appointed head licensee for STELLAR™, with its nursery subsidiary Dalival supporting tree production and international deployment.
“At VentureFruit, we prioritise collaboration and practical solutions for growers. Partnering with IFO as the global head licensee allows us to provide a far-reaching commercial model that is both flexible and responsive to growers’ needs globally, ensuring STELLAR™ reaches the right orchards at the right time,” says Morgan.
Florian Guidat, IFO Dalival’s Development Project Manager adds “We are honoured that STELLAR™ has received this Award from SIVAL Innovation, especially as it is granted by a jury of recognised industry experts. This recognition highlights the importance of innovation in addressing climate change and supporting growers in increasingly challenging production environments. It also reflects the collective effort behind STELLAR™, from research to market, to deliver practical, climate-resilient solutions for the future of apple production.”
The collaborative model underpinning the variety’s journey from breeding to market aligns research excellence with evidence-based commercial decision-making. STELLAR™ is the result of more than 20 years of natural breeding and scientific development within the Hot Climate Partnership, a collaboration between IRTA (Catalonia), The Bioeconomy Science Institute (New Zealand), Fruit Futur (Catalonia) and VentureFruit, which is responsible for global commercialisation and licensing.
STELLAR™ is being rolled out through a tree release model, with initial availability focused on Europe and selected international markets where plant material is available. Growers interested in accessing STELLAR™ are encouraged to contact IFO or Dalival directly.
