Peach Harvest opens in Pelotas, RS

The Regional Opening of the Peach Harvest was officially inaugurated this Saturday (19/11), on the property of Dari Bosembecker, in the Santa Helena colony (Pelotas, RS). The 10 hectares, of one of the perseculturist's three properties, dedicated to peach cultivation put the diversity of fruits to the test and taste of the participants, including the launch of two new peach cultivars from Embrapa Clima Temperado: the BRS RubraMoore and BRS Citrino. The public present, at 10:30 am, toured the orchard, could pick the fruits and taste them. The event had an extensive program and the presence of authorities such as the municipal mayor, Eduardo Leite.

Persiculturist Dari Bosembecker has been cultivating peach trees since he was a child. He has been working directly with culture for 45 years, but this is the first time he has been chosen to host the Abertura. Its main cultivars to be highlighted for their productivity, perenniality and sensory characteristics are BRS Maciel and BRS Esmeralda. However, the farmer who received the property through family succession, over time acquired two more, and today, manages three properties (Santa Helena-Sede; Santa Helena and Santa Áurea), totaling 25 hectares dedicated to peach production. "I have experimental trees of the new cultivar BRS Citrino, and also, I have 23 different experiment areas and 11 more cultivars planted. This 2016/2017 harvest will not be a full harvest, but we have a good production", commented Dari.

The Harvest Opening included the opening of the peach orchard, harvesting by the authorities, launch of new research varieties and fruit tasting of different varieties launched by Embrapa. The Peach Harvest sovereigns also participated in all the events.

Cultivar Launch
The two cultivars, BRS RubraMoore and BRS Citrino, were released for the canning industry and for fresh consumption. With yellow and white pulp, respectively. BRS RubraMoore, with a very red skin, is a cultivar that produces sweet and juicy fruits; while BRS Citrino is a vigorous and medium-sized plant, has a yellow skin and a sweet-acid flavor.

According to researcher Maria do Carmo Bassols Raseira, the BRS Citrino cultivar follows the standardization of the names of materials already released by Embrapa. "It is a type of stone characterized by shades of golden yellow and grayish orange. It is considered one of the most powerful crystals for attracting prosperity and abundance and is also well known for its great vitalizing energy", explains the researcher.

The cultivar BRS RubraMoore was named for its red color (Rubro) and to honor Dr. James Moore, an American fruit breeder. The two cultivars could be known and tasted, fresh and preserved, on the farmer's property. Seedlings of the two cultivars can be obtained from nurseries from July 2017.

Speaking of the authorities
After the launch of the cultivars, the program continued with a celebration lunch in the São Luiz Community, the blessing of the harvest made by Father Capone and Pastor Jorge Signorini, with several speeches from leaders in the region, including the municipal mayor, Eduardo Leite and the general head of Embrapa Clima Temperado, Clenio Pillon.

Clenio Pillon spoke of his pride in having a fruit growing research team committed to the sector by supporting efforts to offer farmers new products that meet fruit and market needs, in addition to praising the results of the union of public and private structures. "It is necessary to remember that the fruit growing sector is a generator of jobs for the municipality and that Embrapa not only has fruit cultivars, but also good agricultural practices for the chain", highlighted Pillon.

The municipal mayor spoke about the growth of the Peach Fortnight, each year, in the municipality and the region and the importance of developing work to motivate farmers and also future citizens to recognize and value field workers. "The schools in our municipal education network developed pedagogical activities with the student public, involving the presence of the party's mascot, "Peslota", who was highlighted in the creation of letters and other educational work", explained Eduardo Leite. For him, Peach Fortnight stimulates the need to rebalance the relationship between countryside and city, consequently, the social development of the region.

Present at this event, in addition to the municipal mayor and the general head of Embrapa Clima Temperado, were the municipal secretary of Rural Development, Wilson Karnopp, the president of the Rural Workers Union of Pelotas, Nilson Loeck; the regional manager of Emater/RS-Ascar, Luis Maria Godói; the president of the Pelotas Peach Producers Association, Marcos Schiller; the president of CAFSul, Roni Silveira; state deputy, Pedro Pereira; and councilor Toninho Peres.