Australia, Chile, and South Africa lead the way in growing Kissabel ® apples from the southern hemisphere. The harvest of these apples, featuring coloured flesh ranging from pink to deep red, started between February and April in the southern region. This marks a major milestone in varietal research and marketing. Key partners in the IFORED programme. Which focuses on the development of Kissabel ® apples, include Montague (Australia), Unifrutti (Chile), Moño Azul (Argentina), DuToit (South Africa), and Yummy Fruit (New Zealand).
Statements about Kissabel ® apples
“Kissabel ® apples are part of a global programme, and we are thrilled to collaborate with top partners in the southern hemisphere,” said Emmanuel de Lapparent, manager of the IFORED programme. “Our red-flesh apples represent an exciting new development for the apple industry, and with each harvest, we are making strides toward broader availability of high-quality fruit with an amazing appearance and delicious taste.”
Australia kicked off its sales season in March, running through early June. Partner Montague launched a comprehensive marketing strategy to build brand awareness and drive demand for Kissabel ® apples. Their plan includes public relations campaigns, in-store sampling, collaborations with influencers, and partnerships with restaurants and bakeries. Additionally, Montague organized tastings at The Orchard, the company’s retail outlet.
Kissabel ® apples also made an appearance at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Attendees enthusiastically sampled the apples, providing positive feedback. These marketing efforts will set the foundation for expected increases in production volumes over the coming years.
In Chile, Unifrutti recorded growth for Kissabel ® apples. Pilot orchards produced enough fruit for test shipments to Central and South America between mid-March and April. The goal is to expand the commercial window by evaluating different red-flesh apple varieties suited to local growing conditions.
South Africa’s DuToit Group is testing several Kissabel ® varieties in its orchards, which are already available in other countries. The group expects to have enough fruit for a semi-commercial season by 2025. Meanwhile, the testing phase continues in Argentina and New Zealand as the programme seeks to adapt the apples to different regions.