Key Takeaways
- BLOOM FRESH warns it will take decisive action against intellectual property (IP) infringement during the 2025 harvest season
- The company owns the rights to premium varieties such as SWEET GLOBE™, COTTON CANDY™, and ALLISON™
- A dedicated enforcement team is expanding efforts through customs programs, DNA testing, and global collaboration
- Landmark wins in 2024 included large-scale vine removals and court victories in China, Peru, Brazil, and Italy
- The company urges industry stakeholders to report suspicious or unauthorized grapes to protect growers and maintain quality
BLOOM FRESH Launches Its Strongest IP Enforcement Season to Date
Global efforts ramp up to protect proprietary grape varieties
As the Northern Hemisphere’s table grape season nears its peak, BLOOM FRESH has announced a heightened intellectual property enforcement campaign to safeguard its premium grape varieties. Formed through the merger of IFG and SNFL, BLOOM FRESH holds rights to some of the industry’s most in-demand cultivars, including SWEET GLOBE™ (IFG Ten), COTTON CANDY™ (IFG Seven), SWEET SAPPHIRE™ (IFG Six), ALLISON™ (Sheegene 20), and TIMPSON™ (Sheegene 2).
“Innovation is the backbone of this industry, but it can only thrive if we protect it,” said Josep Estiarte, CEO. “We will not hesitate to take action against unauthorised growers and traders infringing our IP rights.”
Enforcement Tactics Expand Across Borders
From customs inspections to DNA labs, BLOOM FRESH increases global coverage
BLOOM FRESH’s enforcement program involves a dedicated team that monitors global supply chains and acts against violations using a combination of legal and administrative tools. According to Alanna Rennie, Chief Legal Officer, “We are attacking infringers from all angles—customs, courts, administrative actions, and criminal operations.”
Building on last season’s legal victories, including the removal of infringing vines in Peru, Brazil, and Italy and a major IP ruling in China, BLOOM FRESH will now launch a customs enforcement program in Europe to identify and intercept infringing materials at the border.
Additionally, BLOOM FRESH has partnered with the Breeders Alliance to share intelligence and coordinate actions. A recent initiative from the alliance includes a DNA testing lab in Egypt, already yielding results. Egypt’s Central Administration of Plant Quarantine has suspended the export codes of companies found with infringing material.
BLOOM FRESH Focus on Product Quality and Market Trust
Unauthorised grapes threaten both growers and consumers
Beyond IP protection, BLOOM FRESH emphasizes the risk of subpar quality from unauthorised growers. “Fruit grown by our authorised growers benefits from our input and support at every stage,” said Paul Farmer, Quality & Innovation Director. “Unauthorised production puts consistency at risk and can damage consumer trust in premium table grapes.”
Industry-Wide Call to Action
BLOOM FRESH urges stakeholders to support monitoring efforts
As part of its largest enforcement effort to date, BLOOM FRESH is asking growers, marketers, importers, exporters, and retailers to report any suspicious grapes or products that appear to fall below BLOOM FRESH quality standards.
“This is our biggest monitoring and enforcement effort to date, and we need the industry’s help to make it effective,” Estiarte concluded. “By working together, we can protect the future of premium table grapes for growers and consumers worldwide.”
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