UNITED STATES - New Zealand’s KORU® Apple harvest is in full swing, with shipments having started to arrive in U.S. ports starting April 13. The fruit itself will arrive in markets across the country beginning in May.

“Being a new apple variety, many of the orchards have not yet reached maturity, so you can expect the volume of KORU Apples to increase significantly over the next several years as these orchards come into full production,” said Andy McGrath, Variety Manager. “Also, USA plantings will produce good volumes from 2020, making KORU an all-year-round apple.”

Now coming in on its sixth year in the U.S., here’s what the brand says you can expect out of this year’s KORU Apple crop:

• Amazing taste: Fruit-sugar levels of 13-15 on the Brix scale makes for a naturally sweet KORU Apple.
• Bigger size: 90% of this year’s fruit size is in the 60-80 range, with under 10% in the 100-150 sizes, meaning less bagged snack-sized apples this year and more large apples to cut and share.
• Beautiful color: KORU Apples have a unique orange/red coloring over a yellow background.
• Exceptional quality: KORU Apples are grown and picked to specific grade standards, and some growers have gone that ‘little bit extra’ to clip the stems which means less markings and bruising on the apples as they’re packed and shipped. It’s all done to give consumers the best eating experience, every time.
• Freshness: With a two-hemisphere production, KORU growers provide you with the freshest apple possible.

With consumer feedback like, “This is my new favorite apple!” and “Awesome apples…the best!” consumers sound like they're loving this fruit. Export volumes have been increasing annually, along with production, according to a press release, with this year’s New Zealand crop estimated to reach 180,000 Z-pack equivalents, or about 7.2 million pounds of KORU Apples.

“With good cool nights in growing regions Hawkes Bay and Nelson, the fruit color is exceptional,” said Mike van Workum of Fern Ridge Fresh, New Zealand’s export logistic provider.

New Zealand-grown KORU Apples are picked in March and sold in the States’ markets from May to September, followed by USA-grown KORU Apples picked in October and sold in USA markets from October to April.

“Although KORU Apples store extremely well, the two-hemisphere production means you won’t find a KORU Apple in the markets over six months from its picking date,” McGrath assured consumers.

KORU Apples from New Zealand are sold exclusively in the U.S. by three premier sales organizations: Chelan Fresh in Chelan, WA, Oneonta Starr Ranch in Wenatchee, WA, and New York Apple Sales in Glenmont, NY.

Koru® Apple Chelan Fresh Oneonta Starr Ranch New York Apple Sales