New apple variety Cosmic Crisp coming soon to Australian supermarkets

Aussie fruit lovers will soon be treated to another sweet variety to add to their lunch boxes.

Red Rich Fruits, one of the country’s biggest fruit suppliers, has announced the arrival of the Cosmic Crisp apple, due to hit shelves mid-2024.

The new apple, which is a blend of the Honeycrisp and Enterprise apples, was created in the U.S. and took Washington State University more than 20 years to develop.

After its huge success in America, Red Rich Fruits (RRF) has obtained the exclusive rights to bring the Cosmic Crisp to Australia, and has set aside 100 hectares for growing in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, Batlow in NSW and Manjimup in Western Australia.

RRF director Matt Palise said the apple will reinvigorate the Australian apple market.

‘It offers a firm, crisp texture and a delicate balance of juiciness, sweetness and tartness,’ Mr Palise said.

‘It really is the ultimate apple. The flavour is out of this world.

‘It’s also a very slow to brown apple, so there’s less wastage if your kids don’t eat a whole apple in one go or prefer it cut up.’

There are already 20 million Cosmic Crisp apple trees in the U.S. – planted to meet ‘unprecedented’ demand for the fruit.

The chosen growing locations will replicate the weather patterns in Washington State, where the variety was first grown.

The fruit will also go through a limited number of packing houses to ensure quality and consistency, as well as minimising food miles.

‘It offers a firm, crisp texture and a delicate balance of juiciness, sweetness and tartness,’ Mr Palise said 

Mr Palise said apple sales across the country have been down over the past few years, but hopes the exciting new variety will change that.

‘We think the Cosmic Crisp will remind consumers how delicious an apple can be,’ he said.

With the first batch of Cosmic Crisps set to hit stores in mid-2024, RRF has future plans to open up supply to markets across the Asia Pacific region.

But does an apple a day really keep the doctor away?

‘Absolutely, those sayings exist for a reason,’ Mr Palise said.

‘Apples are the world’s most portable snack: as a parent, there’s not many situations that an apple can’t get you out of.

‘They’re great to throw into a school bag or to take with you to work, they’re full of fibre and delicious to boot.’