Western Australian Black Apple DAFWA

DAFWA director general Rob Delane (left), Fruit West chairman Ben Darbyshire and WA agriculture minister Ken Baston (right) with ANABP 01 apples.

Western Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) will unveil the name, branding and marketing strategy for a new apple variety at a field day next month.

DAFWA has been working extensively on brand development for the locally-bred ANABP 01 apple over recent years, alongside the variety’s Australian licensee Fruit West Co-operative and peak industry body Apple and Pear Australia.

ANABP 01 fruit is expected to be available to consumers in Western Australia and New South Wales this season. DAFWA hopes the field day and initial season will encourage more Australian growers to plant ANABP 01 trees, with the aim of eventually moving into exports.

ANABP 01 is a hybrid of Royal Gala and Cripps Red, harvested between mid-April and early May. The sweet, crunchy, dark-skinnedapple has been in development for more than twenty years.

The field day will be held at DAFWA’s research institute in Manjimup on 18 April.