First it launched the ‘papple’ – a mixture of a pear and an apple – now Marks & Spencer is capitalising on the trend for hybrid fruits by launching the ‘grango’ – a variety of grape that tastes of mango. [Click to enlarge]

The large seedless grapes have a “distinctly tropical flavour” that will appeal to children, the high street chain said.

The grangos have been developed by Enrique Moya, a fruit supplier whose farms are located in and around the village of Totana near Murcia in south-east Spain.

The warm Mediterranean climate helps the grapes develop extra sweetness while the cool temperatures at night give the grapes a firm texture, similar to that of a mango.

Zeina Orfali, M&S’s grape product developer, said: “Being super sweet, we think the grapes will be a huge hit with children – and big kids who are topping up their 5-a-day.”

M&S said that it has been working on producing the perfect grango since 2007. A spokesman said that it can take 10 years for a new grape variety to hit the shelves.

“We are delighted with the fruits of our labour,” the spokesman said.

Grangos will be sold exclusively through 200 of the retailer’s shops from this week until the end of September. They will be sold under the name “Tutti Frutti Seedless Grapes”.

In May, M&S launched a hydrid pear and apple. The fruit – dubbed the ‘papple’ – is a New Zealand-grown variety, T109, looks and tastes like an apple but had the skin and texture of a pear.

T109 is a member of the pear family and is the result of a cross between a European pear variety and an Asian blushed pear.

According to M&S, growers “wanted to develop the ultimate pear that had an amazing colour and an exotic flavour.” They crossed Asian pears, known for their juiceiness and texture, with European pears, which have strong flavour profiles.

The variety, grown in New Zealand and available for the first time in the UK, is round like an apple and has bright red skin with some green speckles. It is part of a new series of pears to be stocked by the retailer this year, and M&S hopes it will be possible to grow T109 in the UK by 2015.

The retailer’s fruit specialist Shazad Rehman said: “This is one of the most exciting new varieties of fruit we have seen for several years. We know our customers like to try new and interesting fruit and we hope this will be something they will really enjoy.”

Source: The Telegraph