Urs Luder Kanzi Alexandre Masson

Urs Luder, chief executive of Greenstar Kanzi Europe, with leading chef Alexandre Masson

Harvesting of this year's new-season European Kanzi apple crop has come to an end, with the latest estimates pointing to total volumes around the 35,000-tonne mark.

Described as 'exceptionally high quality', the apples are available in supermarkets and independent, high-end greengrocers as of today.

At the end of last week, a special parade through the Belgian capital Brussels marked the official start of this year's marketing campaign for Kanzi, involving apple pickers from nine different countries carrying freshly harvested apples along the city's streets.

During a special presentation ceremony, a carton of Kanzi apples was presented to Alexandre Masson, head chef at Brussels' Atomium Restaurant.

'Kanzi apples have become incredibly popular in the last five years,' said a spokesperson for the brand. 'This firm, juicy apple can be seen increasingly in fruit bowls thanks to its particularly fresh and sweet flavour.'

Despite its exotic name, Kanzi originates from north-west Europe and is currently grown in parts of both western and southern Europe.

According to the brand's licence holders, Greenstar Kanzi Europe, this year's Kanzi harvest is large enough in each country where it is grown to provide one apple for each of that country's inhabitants.

A film of the parade can be seen below: