Bravo has been selected as the name for the ‘black’ apple produced in Western Australia (WA), which will be in retail stores later this month.
The dark burgundy skinned apple, also known as ANABP 01, has been in development for more than 20 years, with the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) holding the intellectual property.
DAFWA has been working on the brand development of Bravo alongside the Fruit West Co-operative and industry body Apple and Pear Australia.
“It has a distinct sweetness, is crisp and crunchy, and has a striking burgundy colour like no other apple on the market in Australia,” WA agriculture minister Dean Alder told the West Australian, adding that the apples are being growing from Manjimiup to the Perth Hills.
Mark Wilkinson, director of Fruit West, told the local paper that the industry was still finalising the brand and trademark of the fruit, but was hoping to build exports of the Bravo apple.
“If it becomes an international variety like the Pink Lady, we will have to licence growers in the Northern Hemisphere so that there is year round availability,” Wilkinson said. “We are looking at trying to get a big export market going because WA will be the main place growing it and there is interest in something new in a lot of markets.
“We are looking at India where we have good access and hopefully, in a few years time, China will be open to us.”
The apple is a Royal Gala-Cripps Red hybrid, harvested between April and May.
