The University of Minnesota has introduced Superior Fruit Innovations, a new licensing model that opens access to several of the institution’s premium apple and grape varieties for direct-market growers. Through this program, growers who sell directly to consumers, including through orchards, CSAs, farm stands, and local markets, can now access fruit varieties that were traditionally available only to large distributors. The initiative is designed to support growers of all sizes with fruit noted for their flavor, texture, and color, particularly in cold-climate regions.
The program builds on more than a century of fruit breeding at the University of Minnesota, whose research efforts helped shape some of the most recognizable varieties in the U.S. Apple breeding at the university began in the late 1800s, producing well-known cultivars such as Honeycrisp, SweeTango, and First Kiss/RAVE. These varieties generated significant economic value and helped establish premium markets for Minnesota growers and producers nationwide.
The university is also widely known for its grape research, which began in the 1980s to produce cold-hardy wine and table grapes. Several new seedless table grape varieties are expected to launch in the coming years.
Superior Fruit Innovations represents a shift from traditional managed-variety models at a time when wholesale markets are facing challenges, including rising costs, softening prices, and oversupply. Direct-market growers, by contrast, are better positioned to benefit from the university’s breeding successes because they operate closer to their consumers and local food systems.
The program is operated internally through the University’s Technology Commercialization Office to ensure varieties are made available to growers with strong community ties. By providing access to varieties developed by the same breeding teams behind industry favorites such as Honeycrisp, the university seeks to strengthen relationships across the fruit-growing ecosystem and increase visibility for its long-standing research programs.
Superior Fruit Innovations is also designed to offer growers opportunities to differentiate their offerings, increase visitor traffic, and potentially secure premium pricing, especially with varieties better suited for local markets where long-distance storage and shipping are less practical. The initiative aims to create a scalable structure that connects the university’s research directly to the communities it serves.
KEY QUOTES:
“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.”
“The program is designed to help direct-market growers stand out with fruits that deliver the superior qualities that build customer loyalty. Growers can use SFI varieties to diversify their offerings, attract more visitors, and potentially command a premium price. Not only that, some of these varieties are ideal for local markets which reduces the challenges of storing or shipping fruit long distances.”
Matt Clark, Associate Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, and Director of Research, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
