First South African Cosmic Crisp crop hits the market
Starting this week, South Africans are enjoying the first local crop of Cosmic Crisp produced by Tru-Cape.
The company reported that the apple, a cross between the Honeycrisp and Enterprise varieties, will initially be sold exclusively at Checkers, seeking to introduce Cosmic Crisp to a market interested in new offerings within the premium segment.
Image courtesy of Tru Cape
“Cosmic Crisp is an intense red apple with characteristic white lenticels distributed on the skin, creating a pattern reminiscent of a galaxy,” explained Jeanne Fourie, New Varieties Specialist and Technical Manager at Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, in a press release.
Beyond its appearance, the fruit is crisp and juicy, with a balanced sweet-acid flavor, characteristics the company says aim to satisfy the expectations of consumers seeking a premium fresh apple experience.
“It is especially suitable for fresh consumption, although it can also be successfully used for cooking and baking,” said Fourie.
The cultivar’s commercial debut is also a milestone for South African production, as the country’s first Cosmic Crisp trees enter production.
“Cosmic Crisp is an exciting addition to South Africa's apple offering, and we are delighted that consumers will soon have the opportunity to try it for the first time,” said Roelf Pienaar, CEO of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing.
A premium Cosmic Crisp experience
To celebrate the launch, Tru-Cape is planning tastings in select stores to bring the apple closer to consumers and highlight its flavor and texture characteristics.
Johan Brink, Tru-Cape's Sales Director for Africa and the local market, pointed out that the South African fruit is currently at its peak consumption quality.
Image courtesy of PVM
“As an added advantage, it will arrive on shelves at a time when few other bi-colored apples are available,” he stated.
Cosmic Crisp will be sold in flow-pack format or premium zip-lock bags to increase its visibility on shelves and strengthen its position in the higher-value segment.
The fruit will be placed in the refrigerated section of the stores to help maintain its quality conditions until the moment of consumption.
*Main image courtesy of Tru-Cape; other images courtesy of PVM.
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