Over the past four decades Zaiger's Inc Genetics of Modesto, California, have achieved global prominence in the hybridisation and development of various fruit varieties.
Each year, tens of thousands of new seedlings are planted by the Zaigers, each seedling the result of a controlled cross of two parent trees from their vast inventory of breeding stock.
Promising selections from the primary seedling blocks are chosen for further evaluation by propagating the varieties onto rootstocks in secondary orchards.
During the fruit season these secondary orchards are evaluated in detail by the Zaigers and are also put on display at weekly showcases for Growers and Marketers from around the globe.
The Zaiger breeding programme is pioneering the development of inter-species hybrids (Interspecific hybrids). Zaigers have introduced Pluots and Apriums, which are complex hybrids of the plum and apricot.
They are currently developing peach / apricot / plum hybrids (Peacotums) and interspecies cherry hybrids.