Spain is famous for oranges, lemons and olives. But now an apple developed to survive hotter summers is making headlines on the other side of the world. And its story might offer a glimpse of the future of farming on the Costa Blanca.
If you have ever tried growing an apple tree in a Costa Blanca garden, you will know that our sunshine is not always a blessing.
Apples generally prefer cooler growing conditions, and many traditional varieties need a decent spell of winter chill to produce reliable crops.
But scientists working in Spain have helped develop an apple that is much better suited to warmer, drier climates.
It is called Tutti, and it is now heading for orchards around the world.
The latest destination? New Zealand.
An apple with a Spanish education
Tutti is the result of more than 20 years of research involving scientists in Spain and New Zealand.
Researchers took New Zealand apple genetics and developed and selected the variety under warmer conditions in Catalonia.
The aim was to produce an apple capable of delivering good-quality fruit in places where rising temperatures make traditional apple growing more difficult.
The result is a sweet, red apple designed to tolerate hotter growing conditions.
Tutti was officially launched in 2023, and growers are now introducing it to several international markets.
New Zealand company X-Fruit has secured the rights to grow and market the variety there, with plans to plant around 100 hectares in Hawke’s Bay over the next five years.
The first commercial crop is expected to reach consumers in 2028.
Why does an apple in New Zealand matter to us?
Because the challenge it addresses is becoming increasingly familiar in Spain.
Long, hot summers, water shortages and unpredictable weather can make growing fruit more difficult.
Traditional apple varieties often need cold winters and relatively mild summers, conditions that are not always easy to find in southeastern Spain.
Tutti was developed specifically to perform better in warmer climates.
That does not mean it will happily grow in every Costa Blanca garden. Soil, irrigation, winter temperatures and local conditions still matter.
But it demonstrates how fruit growers are adapting rather than simply accepting that certain crops may become harder to produce.
And that could become increasingly important for agriculture across Alicante province.
Could you grow a Tutti apple in your garden?
Not quite yet, at least not by simply picking up a tree at your local garden centre.
Tutti is a commercially managed apple variety. Growers must obtain a licence before they can cultivate it.
The variety already has licences for commercial production in parts of Europe, the UK, South America and China.
For gardeners on the Costa Blanca, the more practical lesson is that choosing the right apple variety makes all the difference.
If you fancy growing apples here, look for varieties that need fewer hours of winter chill. Ask a local nursery which ones grow reliably in your particular area.
The apple business is changing
There is another reason growers have their eye on Tutti.
Money.
Experts expect the global market for premium apples to grow considerably over the next few years. Producers want varieties that combine excellent flavour with reliable harvests.
Tutti’s developers hope the apple will attract consumers while giving growers more options as temperatures rise.
The variety also reminds us that adapting to climate change does not always require enormous engineering projects or expensive new technology.
Sometimes, it starts with a fruit tree.
After two decades of research, that tree could end up growing thousands of miles from the place where researchers first developed it.
Not bad for an apple!
Bridging the Gap’s recap
- Tutti: A sweet, red apple variety developed to cope with hotter, drier growing conditions.
- Development: Researchers developed Tutti through a partnership between Spain and New Zealand, with breeding and selection work in Catalonia.
- What makes it special: Its developers specifically targeted warmer climates, where traditional apple varieties often struggle.
- Commercial production: Growers in New Zealand have started planting Tutti commercially.
- Planned orchards: The New Zealand project aims to establish approximately 100 hectares of orchards over five years.
- First harvest: Growers expect the first commercial harvest of New Zealand-grown Tutti apples around 2028.
- Growing on the Costa Blanca: Tutti’s heat tolerance looks promising, but it may not thrive in every local garden or orchard.
- Availability: Tutti remains a commercially licensed variety, so you won’t find it widely available in ordinary garden centres.
- Why it matters: Tutti shows how Spanish agricultural research can help develop crops for a warmer future.
