Nearly fifty growers and technicians gathered on 29 July at the La Pugère Experimental Station in Mallemort, Bouches-du-Rhône, for the official launch of the new KIARA® pear variety (Cepora cov.). Developed by INRAE and published by CEP Innovation, this eagerly awaited variety was presented in detail by Claire Thouminot, Projects and Variety Development Manager at CEP Innovation. 
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An early variety, resistant to fire blight
The new Kiara pear, a cross between Harrow Sweet and Pierre Corneille, offers excellent resistance to fire blight, a major focus of INRAE's breeding programmes, explains Claire Thouminot. Positioned in the early-season segment, alongside the well-known Williams, Kiara is "an ideal option for growers looking to enter the market at the very start of the campaign".
High and consistent taste quality
© CEP InnovationWith its coppery skin and a few red highlights, Kiara stands out for its juicy, aromatic flesh and a Brix level of 13–15 at harvest. "This is a variety with consistently high taste quality — the second key objective in its development," notes Thouminot. The strong interest from growers also reflects the lack of recent innovation in pear varieties: "There have been very few new arrivals on the pear shelves in recent years," she points out.
A pear for fresh consumption
and processing
Initial trials have confirmed Kiara's good storage potential (six to seven months), as well as excellent results for processing. Although processing was not a primary breeding objective, the trials revealed that Kiara has genuine dual-purpose potential. "We were already well into the trials when we discovered this unexpected versatility. It was a wonderful surprise," says Thouminot. Very few pear varieties combine these qualities, offering growers added security. However, she stresses that processors generally require large, dedicated volumes, which may limit mixed-use orchards. 
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An open variety 
© CEP InnovationWhile Kiara's agronomic and taste attributes were enthusiastically received, questions remained over its distribution model. "Growers were reassured to learn that Kiara is an open variety, available to anyone wishing to plant it," says Thouminot. This decision was warmly welcomed, especially by professionals who had feared the launch of yet another club variety — a format they believed would have discouraged new plantings.
© CEP InnovationFor more information:
CEP Innovation
23 Rue Jean Baldassini, 69007 Lyon
Tel: +33 (0) 4 72 72 49 02
[email protected]