In the News

Good Fruit Grower
January 1, 2026 - The University of Minnesota has announced the launch of Superior Fruit Innovations (SFI), a new licensing model designed to connect growers of all sizes with the university’s world-class fruit varieties, according to a news release.

Fox9 KMSP
December 4, 2025 - The University of Minnesota’s renowned fruit breeding program has unveiled six new apple and grape varieties designed especially for small-scale orchard growers. Among the releases is Supersnap, a highly anticipated successor to Honeycrisp, bred for exceptional crispness, flavor, and disease resistance. U of M research scientist David Bedford explains the process of developing new fruit varieties.

Minnesota Public Radio
November 28, 2025 - The University of Minnesota’s breeding program, famous for creating the Honeycrisp apple, has launched six new varieties of apples and grapes that it’s licensing to growers.

Tech Comm Press Release
November 26, 2025 - UMN's Technology Commercialization has launched Superior Fruit Innovations™ (SFI) in collaboration with the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS). This new grower-focused licensing model is designed to expand access to the University’s most advanced apple and grape varieties.

Axios
November 25, 2025 - The University of Minnesota is releasing a series of three new seedless grape varieties, the first time it has developed grapes for the table — not the bottle — in 45 years.

Fresh Plaza
November 24, 2025 - The University of Minnesota has announced the launch of Superior Fruit Innovations (SFI), a new licensing model aimed at making the university's fruit varieties accessible to a wider range of growers.

WineBusiness
November 21, 2025 - New licensing model offers direct-market growers apples and grapes known for their superior fruit quality and cold-hardiness.

Minnesota Morning Ag Clips
November 20, 2025 - The University of Minnesota today announced the launch of Superior Fruit Innovations™ (SFI), a new grower-focused licensing model. SFI is specifically designed to bring the U of M’s world-class new varieties to more growers and fruit lovers.

CFANS Press Release
November 19, 2025 - The University of Minnesota today announced the launch of Superior Fruit Innovations™ (SFI), a new grower-focused licensing model. SFI is specifically designed to bring the U of M’s world-class new varieties to more growers and fruit lovers. 

Growing Produce
November 19, 2025 - The University of Minnesota has announced the launch of Superior Fruit Innovations (SFI), a new grower-focused licensing model. SFI is specifically designed to bring the university’s world-class new varieties to more growers and fruit lovers. For the first time, this model opens up exclusive University of Minnesota fruit varieties to direct-market growers who sell straight to consumers and local communities rather than through large distributors.

FruitNet/EuroFruit
November 19, 2025 - Superior Fruit Innovations opens access to exclusive University of Minnesota fruit varieties for growers who sell directly to consumers, marking a shift from traditional wholesale-focused licensing models.