The fruit company that has released a tiny new apple is aiming it at the convenience, or snack food, market.
The apple, a bite-sized sweet red variety called Rockit, was bred by Plant & Food Research (formerly HortResearch), which has developed all of New Zealand's new commercial apple cultivars.
It is the latest to come out of Prevar, a pipfruit industry joint venture company set up to commercialise new apple and pear varieties.
The Havelock North Fruit Company has marketing rights for the new apple cultivar. Managing director Phil Allison says the industry has been looking for a distinctly different apple and Rockit fits the bill.
He says it is beautifully coloured, very small - about the size of one and a half golf balls - very sweet and a "great" eating apple that will compete with confectionary items such as chocolate bars and other items.
Mr Alison says the apple's has been well received in export markets and locally where it has been tested.
But with only about 1000 cartons expected to be harvested this season, it will not be seen much outside Hawke's Bay this year.
