Celina cv. (QTee®) to be introduced in North America

In association with Fruithandel Wouters and ABCz Group of Belgium, Proprietary Variety Management (PVM or Provar) has announced it has been granted the license to manage the Celina cv. pear in the United States. A cross between the Broket Juli and Williams (also known as Bartlett) pears, Celina cv. is a medium-sized pear featuring a cheeky red blush over a light green background. Eaten out of hand or in a favourite recipe, the white-fleshed, juicy pear packs plenty of sweet flavour. Growers will find the trees adapt well to warm or cool climates, are highly productive, and tolerant against fire blight.

800 hectares already planted worldwide

In other growing regions of the world, Celina cv. is marketed under the brand name QTee®. The first order of business for PVM will be to conduct consumer research surveys to select a new trademark for branding the pear in the United States. As a managed variety, growers, packers and marketers will be licensed by PVM to participate in the commercial programme. Tyler Brandt, general manager of PVM’s sister company Brandt’s Fruit Trees, said “We have received scion wood to build trees this fall and I anticipate having a limited amount of trial trees available for planting in spring 2025.”  Fruithandel Wouters and ABCz Group introduced the QTee® brand in Belgium in 2015, and have continued to expand into additional territories each season. “Currently, there are 800 hectares of Celina cv pears planted worldwide,” said Kris Wouters, owner of Fruithandel Wouters. “We are very proud to add the United States as our 15th country under exclusive license.”