Provar Evaluations
Independent evidence for better cultivar decisions.
Provar provides independent, scientifically grounded cultivar and rootstock evaluations to support informed decisions across the fruit industry.
Why Choose Us
Introducing a new cultivar involves significant investment and long-term decisions. Understanding how it performs under different growing conditions, throughout the production cycle and after harvest is essential to managing that risk.
Provar provides impartial assessments of cultivar characteristics, performance and adaptability. Our evaluations help stakeholders identify promising selections, recognise potential limitations and make decisions supported by reliable evidence rather than assumptions.
Scientifically Robust
We apply standardised, scientifically rigorous methods to generate objective, reliable and comparable evaluation data.
Horticultural Expertise
Our extensive practical experience ensures evaluations reflect real-world growing conditions and production challenges.
Commercially Relevant
We translate evaluation data into meaningful insights that support informed cultivar selection and commercial decision-making.
Our Evaluation Services
Tree & Field Evaluation
We monitor tree growth, development and performance throughout the growing season. Evaluations include phenological development, flowering, yield potential, fruit maturity and the identification of physiological disorders or other characteristics that may influence cultivar suitability.
Fruit Quality Evaluation
We assess the physical, visual and sensory characteristics of fruit at harvest and during subsequent evaluations. Measurements include fruit size, appearance, internal quality, eating quality and other cultivar-specific characteristics.
Postharvest & Storage Evaluation
We evaluate how fruit quality changes during storage and shelf life. These assessments help determine storage potential, identify postharvest disorders and understand how cultivars maintain quality beyond harvest.
Cultivar Screening & Comparative Trials
We support the identification and assessment of promising cultivars through structured screening and evaluation programmes. Comparative trials provide evidence of cultivar performance and adaptability across relevant growing conditions.
Rootstock Evaluation
We assess rootstock performance and suitability, including horticultural characteristics, adaptability and rootstock–scion interactions. These evaluations support more informed rootstock selection for different production environments.
Sensory Evaluation & Fruit Tastings
Our structured tasting programmes collect feedback on fruit appearance, flavour, texture and overall eating quality. These assessments provide an additional perspective on cultivar quality and potential market acceptance.
Supporting industry-wide cultivar evaluation.
Provar works with industry organisations and commercial partners to strengthen the evidence available for cultivar selection and development.
Our longstanding collaboration with Hortgro includes the Pro-Hort programme, which supports independent cultivar evaluation across representative production regions in South Africa.
Through systematic assessments over multiple seasons, the programme contributes to a growing body of evidence on cultivar performance and adaptability.
Our Approach
Standardised methods. Reliable evidence.
Our evaluations are conducted impartially, with findings based on observed cultivar performance.
Consistent evaluation methods enable meaningful comparisons between cultivars, growing environments and seasons.
Evaluating plant material under different environmental conditions helps establish cultivar adaptability and identify potential performance limitations.
Our team combines expertise in horticulture, cultivar evaluation, fruit quality and postharvest assessment.
Using standardised digital tools, we collect, manage and report evaluation results to support interpretation, comparison and informed decision-making.
PROVAR FRUIT TASTINGS
Be among the first to discover promising new fruit cultivars
Join our mailing list to receive invitations to upcoming Provar tastings. Experience new and exciting fruit varieties, share your impressions and contribute valuable feedback to the scientific evaluation of tomorrow’s commercial cultivars.
Some Numbers
A snapshot of Provar’s experience and impact.
13+
Years In Business
52+
Industry Projects / Trials Completed
3.9K+
Cultivars Planted
6.6K+
Evaluations Conducted
Better decisions begin with reliable information.
Whether you are developing new cultivars, evaluating their commercial potential or looking for better ways to manage research data, our team can help.