New apple variety tipped for glory

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Image credit: flickr User: jfjclarach

Researchers from the West Australian Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) have successfully cultivated a new variety of apple that is threatening to challenge the supreme status of the state’s most successful apple – the Pink Lady.

Image credit: flickr User: jfjclarach
Image credit: flickr User: jfjclarach

According to the article on ABC, the new fruit – which was known as The Black Apple during its development – has been officially given the title ANABP 1 until it is renamed for commercial sale.

Developed over the course of 20 years, the apple is a cross between Royal Gala and the Cripps Red, or Sundowner, and is dark burgundy in colour and sweet, crispy and crunchy in taste.

The new apple variety was created under the Australian National Apple Breeding Program, which is funded by the Western Australian State Government and Horticulture Australia Limited.

Terry Martella, a second generation orchardist with a long family history of growing apples in Kirup in the state’s s south west, has had the new apple variety planted in his orchard for about a year and is “cautiously confident” about its success.

Adertisement

“It has a real point of difference in its appearance and its very good to eat,” he said.

“We’re quite confident that it’s a good variety.”

Mr Martella said ongoing research by DAFWA into the creation and development of new apple varieties was crucial to the competitiveness of the industry.

“It’s imperative,” he said.

“When you’re dealing with the chain stores, they are always looking for something new – people get bored with old stuff.”

Industry body Fruit West Cooperative Limited will be managing the commercialisation of the apple, which is expected to be commercially available by 2016.