Top new apple variety available to SA growers
Farmer's Weekly|June 09, 2023
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
Top new apple variety available to SA growers

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.

This story is from the June 09, 2023 edition of Farmer's Weekly.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the June 09, 2023 edition of Farmer's Weekly.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM FARMER'S WEEKLYView All
Protests in Poland turn violent
Farmer's Weekly

Protests in Poland turn violent

The farmers’ protest in Poland is fast becoming known as the most violent agricultural protest in Europe, according to national media.

time-read
1 min  |
29 March 2024
Banana Hall of Fame celebrates banana industry
Farmer's Weekly

Banana Hall of Fame celebrates banana industry

In celebration of its 125th Bananaversary, Dole Food in the US recently established a National Banana Hall of Fame to honour culinary and cultural institutions that have helped to establish bananas as one of the world’s most popular and most purchased fruit.

time-read
1 min  |
29 March 2024
Underutilised crops come into their own
Farmer's Weekly

Underutilised crops come into their own

Diverse food systems are the focus of collaborative efforts at UKZN, writes Jyothi Laldas.

time-read
2 mins  |
29 March 2024
Why cybersecurity is needed in farming
Farmer's Weekly

Why cybersecurity is needed in farming

The agriculture sector could be the most susceptible to cyberattacks.

time-read
3 mins  |
29 March 2024
Minister launches third National Status of Biological Invasions in SA programme
Farmer's Weekly

Minister launches third National Status of Biological Invasions in SA programme

Biological invasions need to be treated as an urgent matter as they pose a risk to water security as well as biodiversity, writes Jyothi Laldas.

time-read
3 mins  |
29 March 2024
Two brothers who left their mark on SA
Farmer's Weekly

Two brothers who left their mark on SA

Born in Germany, Alfred and Otto Beit came to the Transvaal's diamond fields in the late 1800s, helping to found mining companies and build crucial infrastructure, writes Graham Jooste.

time-read
5 mins  |
29 March 2024
Driving impressions: Honda Elevate 1,5
Farmer's Weekly

Driving impressions: Honda Elevate 1,5

Honda SA is back to its best in terms of packaging, build quality, value-for-money and efficiency with a new entry to the hotly contested compact SUV market. Ian McLaren for CAR tested the vehicle at its launch.

time-read
3 mins  |
29 March 2024
Starting a small-farm vegetable project: Part 2
Farmer's Weekly

Starting a small-farm vegetable project: Part 2

The process of developing a small vegetable farm is gradual and the full benefits will only be realised later, writes Bill Kerr.

time-read
2 mins  |
29 March 2024
Basic vaccination and health protocols for pigs
Farmer's Weekly

Basic vaccination and health protocols for pigs

Pigs are usually produced in intensive environments such as purpose-built piggeries, sties, or even enclosed sheds.

time-read
3 mins  |
29 March 2024
Saving Nigeria's forest elephants
Farmer's Weekly

Saving Nigeria's forest elephants

Nigeria risks losing all its forest elephants. This is what Rosemary Iriowen Egonmwan, professor of environmental physiology of animals at the University of Lagos, and Bola Oboh, professor of genetics at the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics at the University of Lagos, found when they went looking for them.

time-read
4 mins  |
29 March 2024