Braeburn

Braeburn originated in New Zealand from a chance seedling in 1950. It was first imported into South Africa in the mid seventies. Braeburn is harvested from late March to early April. The fruit has a similar shape to Granny Smith, and the background colour is green-gold and covered with a partial reddish-orange blush or stripes.

The texture is crisp and the taste is sweet and slightly tangy. It is an excellent eating apple and is delicious in salads.

Fuji

Fuji originated in the 1950's in Fujisaki, Japan and is a cross between Ralls and Red Delicious. It was introduced to South Africa in the early 1990's. Fuji is harvested in early April.

Fuji is a relatively large apple, and has a green-yellow background, partially covered with bright pink-red stripes. The flesh is yellowish and the texture is firm and very crisp, juicy apple, very sweet with an attractive aroma.

Gala

This apple was bred in New Zealand and is a cross between Kid's Orange Pippin and Golden Delicious. It was imported into South Africa in the 1970's and the first commercial plantings took place in 1982.

Gala is harvested in mid February.

It has a yellow skin, with some red stripes and inconspicuous lenticels, and slight russeting often occurs at the stem-end. The flesh is cream and the texture is crisp and the fruit is inclined to be small.

The apple has a unique, sweet, tangy flavour and a lovely aroma. Gala is a perfect eating apple and ideal for salads.

Golden Delicious

Golden Delicious was found as a seedling in West Virginia, USA, in the 1880's and introduced into South Africa in 1930 by Molteno Brothers of Grabouw. Golden delicious is harvested from late February to mid March. It is a medium to large apple, green when harvested, ripening to a golden yellow colour.

The skin has conspicuous lenticels. The flesh is green-white and crisp and the taste is sweet, fragrant and juicy. It is a superb eating apple, and is excellent for use in salads. In certain areas and under specific climatic conditions Golden Delicious has a delicate pink blush.

Sundowner

Sundowner is the lesser-known sibling of Pink Lady. They share the same parentage - Golden Delicious and Lady Williams - but they were developed at the same time by the same fruit breeder, John Cripps of Western Australia. Pink Lady and Sundowner are trade names, and you will also see these apples described and sometimes marketed as Cripps Pink and Cripps Red respectively.

Sundowner does not have the distinctive pink blush of Pink Lady, being a more conventional "bi-coloured" red apple. The flavour is less delicate than Pink Lady, and slightly more distinctive.

Granny Smith

Granny Smith derives its name from a real granny Smith, Mrs Maria Ann Smith, who discovered this seedling in her garden in Australia in the 1860's.

The first plantings in South Africa date back to 1919. Granny Smith is in full bloom from middle to late October and is harvested from late March to late April.

It is a medium to large apple, varying in colour from light to bright green, and the lenticels are well developed. In cooler areas it will develop a red blush.

The flesh is firm, white and crisp, and the taste is slightly tart, yet sweet. It is an excellent eating apple and good for baking, sauces or purees.

Royal Gala

This apple originated in New Zealand and is a Gala mutation. It was introduced to South Africa in the 1980's and is now preferred to the Gala because of its better colour.

Royal Gala is harvested in mid February and the same size and taste is identical to Gala, but it is covered with stripes, bright red in colour. When ripe the background skin is yellow and with the deep red stripes, and Royal Gala has a beautiful deep orange appearance.

Starking

Starking originated in the USA in the 1920's and was introduced to South Africa in the 1940's. It is a mutation of Red Delicious, and is harvested in early March.

It is a medium to large apple with red stripes on a green-yellow background. Starking is a very popular eating apple. It is sweet and juicy, has cream coloured flesh and a crisp texture.

Topred

This apple was discovered in the 1950's in Columbia, USA. It is a mutation of Shotwell Delicious, which was itself a mutation of Red Delicious. It was introduced to South Africa in 1973.

Topred is harvested from late February to early March, and has a deep red colour, more uniform that a Starking and with conspicuous lenticels. It is a medium to large fruit, with creamy-white flesh and a crisp texture. The taste is sweet and juicy and delicious to eat.

Pink Lady ® / Cripp's Pink

This delicious bicolour apple has one pink cheek and one pale cheek and was developed in West Australia by John Cripps of the Australian Department of Agriculture. Cripp's Pink is a cross breeding of Golden Delicious and Lady Williams, and is harvested in mid to late April.

The skin is pink to light red solid blush overlaying a lime yellow background, it has creamy white flesh, a crisp, fine texture, and a sweet-tart flavour. Pink Lady ® is not a variety, but a brand name. The brand is applied to the Cripp's Pink variety of apples only if they comply with the stringent quality standards prescribed by the Pink Lady ® brand.

<<< Back to Pome Fruits

Fruits is a South African fruit producer and exporter who specializes in the export of top quality South African Fruit to global markets.