HortResearch has developed an extensive apricot breeding program to provide the New Zealand summerfruit industry with new, high quality, well-adapted apricot cultivars. Seedling populations are grown and evaluated at three sites, in three different climatic regions. The breeding program was initiated in the late 1960's. Several superior selections, the Clutha series, have already been released. Five new, elite selections derived from the Clutha series, are currently undergoing final trials before being commercially released to the industry.