START THE COUNTDOWN … IT’S COMING UP APPLES

Can you hear me Major Tom? It’s the food of choice in outer space, and now Kanzi, the world’s best selling apple, is grown and available in Australia.

With a flavour that is out of this world, Kanzi apples will explode onto the Australian market for its short but sweet, juicy and crunchy season at the end of April.

And if Kanzis are proving to be the apple of choice on planet Earth ... they are proving to be “a flavour out of this world”. A hand-selected shipment of Kanzi apples blasted into space last month on board an unmanned NASA rocket. This wholesome treat, and a sweet taste of “home” was part of a resupply flight for the six crew of the International Space Station.

Red and cream in colour, this fragrant fruit is a cross between a sweet juicy Gala and a tangy Braeburn apple. It has a refined sweet, yet tangy flavour combined with a beautiful crisp and juicy crunch. It is everything you could look for in an apple.

But be quick. Kanzi is all about living in the now with a season of a little more than 12 weeks here, because in Australia they are never frozen nor stored, they are sold “fresh off the tree”.

The Kanzi is a European variety developed naturally from Gala and Braeburn in the Netherlands drawing its name from a Swahili word meaning “happy treasure”.

Kanzi apples were bred as a dessert variety, so they are perfect for fresh eating. Eating them straight, in salads or cut up into fresh snacks showcases their juicy crunch.

As Kanzis keep their shape and juiciness after cooking, they also make excellent baking apples for delicate tarts or pies. And with their unique sweet and tangy flavour profile, Kanzis pair well with white, creamy cheeses as well as strong cheeses like gorgonzola and other fruits such as figs.

Kanzi apples are grown in all major Australian apple growing regions such as Stanthorpe, Orange, Batlow, Mornington, Yarra, Adelaide Hills, Manjimup, Perth Hills, and Huon.