Smitten for Valentines day

Consumers will be smitten with a unique variety of apple set to hit Australia’s supermarket shelves on Valentine’s Day.

Narre Warren orchard manager Shaun Witchell with Smitten apples. Picture by Turi Kouzmin.

Fresh produce company, Montague, is celebrating the day of romance with the harvest of its first apple offering of the season, the seductively sweet Smitten.

“In its third season, Smitten is already a firm favourite among consumers looking for a refreshing summer apple treat,” Montague marketing manager Gavin Wylie said.

It is a blend of Gala, Braeburn, Falstaff and Fiesta providing a full-flavoured fruit.

This season, the Smitten crop is expected to increase by 20,000 cartons.

“Ripening in early February makes Smitten the first apple variety harvested each year,” Mr Wylie said.

Originating from New Zealand, Smitten is grown in all the major growing regions of Australia including Stanthorpe Queensland, Batlow in NSW, Gippsland and Yarra Valley in southern Victoria, Huon Valley in Tasmania and Pemberton in Western Australia.

It is grown with efficient and environmentally friendly practices on naturally robust trees and puts less emphasis on full-red colour.

“As industry innovators, Montague continues to invest in the research and development of new apple brands,” Mr Wylie said.

Smitten will go on sale at selected Coles supermarkets in Victoria, Queensland and NSW from February 12 and in Western Australia from ­February 26.

Article by Amelia Pepe, The Weekly Times

Read the original article here: www.weeklytimesnow.com.au