The feature which is set to make ENZA’s new apple variety a star was a lucky accident.
The new variety survives for many hours longer than other apples without turning brown when cut.
The super-apple is called “Envy” – and that’s likely to be the reaction from growers around the world.
Envy is proving extremely popular on the international market for a unique reason – cut or bite it open and it will take between four and eight hours before it turns brown.
“It’s just a combination of the acid sugar level,” says Brian D’Ath of ENZA. “The balance must be exactly right ‘cos you know, to stop apples browning you put lemon juice on it.”
Envy is a cross-pollination between Braeburn and Royal Gala – developed to be sweet and crisp. The fact that it doesn’t brown quickly wasn’t planned, just an added bonus.
Envy is one of the seven deadly sins and orchardists from other countries will be guilty of that because Envy’s ability to withstand discolouration when cut will be a virtue they’ll wish their apples had too.
And I won’t be able to get it here in Adelaide. Damn!
There is a lovely variety I can get here – Pink Ladies – which are crisp and sweet, without being too sweet. But I want that non-browning variety.
Deborah – the apple case is wending its way through the WTO, don’t hold your breath but one day NZ apples will be allowed in to Australia.
HP I saw on the box last night that Enza were going to licence this Apple to Growers in the US to allow for an all year season. A bit like the Yellow Kiwi Fruit is grown in Italy.
Maybe the Aussies will allow us to licence their growers to grow this Jazz and the Beauty range. I understand that Enza and the Apple Growers have been big on Intellectual Property over the last few years. Remember the guys from China that stole or attempted to steal bud wood a few years ago.
We need market niches but at times we also need help filling them so licensing seems to make sense.