The UK is expecting a promising Jazz apple season, with French and New Zealand volumes up significantly on last year.
Worldwide Fruit has announced that the 2009-10 northern hemisphere Jazz crop is expected to reach similar volumes to the 2009 New Zealand season, at around 5,300 tonnes for the UK market.
The company enjoyed a strong performance in the first eight months of the year, with Jazz apple sales increasing by 40 per cent between January and August, compared to the same period in 2008.
As the UK and French Jazz trees continue to mature and produce more fruit, the 2009-10 UK Jazz volumes are expected to be around 2000t, up from 1,200t last season. French Jazz volumes show a similar increase at more than 50 per cent year on year.
The New Zealand season is expected to run until early November, when new-season fruit from France and the UK will enter the market. It is expected that a further 2,500t of Jazz will be sold between September and December.
Gary Harrison, commercial manager at Worldwide Fruit, said: “A 40 per cent increase in Jazz sales year on year is truly remarkable for a premium apple, given the economic climate and very tough trading conditions that have prevailed.
“Increasing numbers of consumers are beginning to appreciate Jazz apples' unique taste profile thanks to fantastic retailer support through shelf space and promotions and an aggressive consumer awareness campaign, which includes media PR, the Team Jazz sponsorship scheme, online activities and extensive sampling at prestigious food tasting events such as the Taste of London, Children’s Food Festival and the BBC Good Food Show.”
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