Top new apple variety available to SA growers

Magic Star, a new bicoloured red apple that has taken the European market by storm, is now available for production in South Africa. Glenneis Kriel reports on its introduction to Western Cape farmers

- Glenneis Kriel

The South African Plant Improvement Organisation (SAPO) hosted an information day in Ceres in the Western Cape in late April to formally introduce producers to SQ 159. This is a deep-red, bicoloured apple variety that trades under the name Magic Star, and Natyra Bio when produced organically.

The variety, belonging to Fresh Forward in the Netherlands, was developed out of a cross between Elise and an unnamed scab-resistant cultivar, and is said to produce crispy, juicy apples with a sweet taste and aroma, and between 75% and 90% blush. It also has a long shelf life: the fruit can be stored for four to six months under normal atmospheric conditions and 10 to 12 months or even longer in controlled atmosphere storage.

The variety is resistant to scab and has a low susceptibility to stem canker and mildew.

MARKET ACCEPTANCE

Magic Star is enchanting markets everywhere it goes, according to Stephan Geerlings, marketing manager of Fresh Forward.

Speaking at the information day, Geerlings said that 40% of the 500 participants in a Dutch consumer panel rated Magic Star better than any other apple variety currently available in their supermarkets, while 48% deemed it as good as other apples. Eighty-eight percent said they would like the variety to be in all supermarkets.

A French consumer panel of 200 participants also rated the variety significantly higher than others tested. Magic Star took first place, followed by Jazz, Elstar, Pink Lady, Honey Crunch, Golden Delicious, and Gala.

Geerlings added that shops selling the variety were reporting a high number of repurchases, with repurchases at supermarkets in the EU increasing from 6,6% in 2021 to 11,3% in 2023.