Sweet and scrumptious, is that a description of your loved one for Valentine’s Day today or perhaps the apple you’ve just given them?
Could be both. Savvy food marketers and fresh produce company Montague have marketed an apple that’s just ripe for lovers passing on a gift to that special person. What better than something you can crunch and savour?
The ‘Smitten apple’ is a blend of Gala, Braeburn, Falstaff and Fiesta varieties that was bred in New Zealand about 15 years ago. According to apple growers, the Fankhausers, it’s a perfect early season apple that is “hard as an apple should be”, according to Brad Fankhauser. “While a lot of the galas coming on the market now are a bit soft the Smitten has just the right crunch, just as an apple should be,” he said. The Smitten apples are the perfect new season variety, the Fankhausers say.
It had been a great growing season with flavour and colour now coming into the apples. The Fankhausers have only been in production of the Smitten apples for two years, with a five-year tree lead-up in getting the trees up and running.
Montague says its Smitten crop is expecting to increase by 20,000 cartons this season and are being sold through Coles supermarkets.
Have a bite, it may lead to a lifetime indulgence.
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
