Product Offerings
Products:
Fruit Varieties: Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, Apples, Pears (including unique hybrids like watermelon plum, pomegranate plum, black apricot)
Ben Dor Fruits and Nurseries, based in Yesud HaMa'ala, Israel, is a globally recognized leader in fruit varietal innovation, rootstock production, and nursery development. With decades of experience in plant breeding, Ben Dor has transformed the global stone fruit sector through the creation of unique, flavor-rich fruit varieties and advanced horticultural rootstocks, distributed to growers and nurseries worldwide.
Core Business and Capabilities
Ben Dor Fruits and Nurseries operates across three strategic domains:
- Fruit Breeding and Genetics: Development of proprietary stone fruit and pome fruit varieties, many of which are patented and globally licensed.
- Nursery Propagation: Production of virus-indexed, high-performance saplings and certified rootstocks.
- International Licensing and Export: Collaboration with nurseries and commercial growers in over 30 countries.
Their operations span R&D orchards, nursery greenhouses, grafting units, and controlled trial fields, all designed to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation fruit cultivars.
Proprietary Varieties and Product Portfolio
Ben Dor's portfolio features some of the world's most innovative and exotic fruit hybrids, including:
Stone Fruits:
- Apricots, Nectarines, Peaches, Plums, and interspecific hybrids
- Novel hybrids such as:
- Watermelon Plum
- Pomegranate Plum
- Black Apricot
- Red Heart Pluot
These varieties are characterized by:
- Extended harvest windows
- Unique color and flavor profiles
- Enhanced shelf life and transport resilience
- High Brix levels for premium taste
Apples and Pears:
- Custom-bred for warm climates
- Enhanced for disease resistance and productivity
Rootstocks:
- Apple Rootstocks: M-26, MM-106, Geneva 41, and more
- Custom Israeli-developed rootstocks: Adapted to drought-prone, high-salinity soils
- Grafted material produced under GSPP and local phytosanitary standards
Ben Dor saplings are grown under strict certification programs, ensuring clean planting material and strong genetic traits.
Breeding Innovation and R&D
Ben Dor operates one of Israel’s most respected private breeding programs, focused on:
- Cross-species hybridization
- Flavor and aroma enhancement
- Climate adaptation for arid and semi-arid regions
- Post-harvest performance optimization
The company’s R&D pipeline includes hundreds of cultivars under development, many of which undergo testing in international partner orchards before commercial release.
International Reach and Licensing
Ben Dor Fruits licenses its cultivars to:
- Commercial nurseries and grower groups in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania
- Retail-focused fruit producers looking to differentiate through exclusive varieties
- Plant health certification agencies and agriculture ministries to ensure clean global distribution
All licenses are backed by intellectual property protection, with formal plant patents or Plant Variety Rights (PVR) registered in numerous jurisdictions.
Certifications and Quality Control
- Certified nursery status under Israeli Ministry of Agriculture
- Phytosanitary export certification for saplings and rootstock shipments
- Pathogen-indexed plant material, produced in controlled and inspected environments
- On-site trialing and monitoring of all new cultivars before commercialization
Marketing, Branding, and Events
While Ben Dor does not currently operate consumer-facing brands, it is widely represented at:
- Fruit Logistica (Berlin)
- Asia Fruit Logistica
- Interpoma and SIVAL
- World-class breeding consortiums and IP expos
Through these platforms, Ben Dor showcases fruit innovation and partners with major nurseries, licensing bodies, and produce marketers for global rollouts.
Strategic Strengths
- Decades of breeding expertise, resulting in a globally recognized genetic library
- Strong partnerships with premium growers and retailers worldwide
- Adaptation to climate change, with cultivars suited for heat and drought conditions
- Early-to-late harvest schedules, allowing growers to extend their market windows
Major Achievements
- Developed and patented over 40 proprietary fruit cultivars with global commercial distribution
- Supported 30+ international grower and nursery partnerships
- Introduced highly differentiated fruit hybrids now sold in premium supermarket programs
- Pioneered climate-resilient rootstocks tailored to Israel and Mediterranean zones
Ben Dor Fruits and Nurseries continues to redefine fruit breeding through passion, precision, and partnership, supplying the world’s orchards with the next generation of fruit excellence.