Harvesting success: A glance back at Next Generation Apples’ Primary Sector Award win

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) is a proud sponsor of the New Zealand Food Awards, owned and operated by Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University. NZFS and the Food Awards both support and promote the value of a strong food safety culture at every point in the supply chain.

NZFS Deputy Director-General Vincent Arbuckle recently visited the team at Golden Bay Fruit who, alongside Taylor Corp, won the 2024 Primary Sector Award, sponsored by NZFS.

Sassy™ apples’ success is the result of Golden Bay Fruit and Taylor Corp collectively partnering to form Next Generation Apples. Together, they hold the global license for the Sassy™ apples variety, ensuring its availability in both domestic and international markets.

With more than 150 years of apple-growing experience between the family-owned businesses, growing new varieties are firmly entrenched in their DNA.

The rise of Sassy™ apples

Developed over 12 years through plant breeding by Plant and Food Research, Sassy™ apples are a testament to Aotearoa New Zealand's dedication to agricultural innovation.

First launched in 2023, Sassy™ apples is a unique apple variety that offers consumers a range of benefits, such as crisp texture, high flavour, long storage and shelf life, novel skin and flesh colour, optimal harvest maturity and resistance to pests and diseases.

"It is exciting to see how investment in research can lead to practical advances without sacrificing on bite or flavour. Our judging panel for the Primary Sector Award noted the impressive research and innovation behind this product," Mr Arbuckle says.

Next Generation Apples’ success is a celebration of embracing modern technologies and agricultural innovation, as well as their commitment to food safety.

Entering the export market

Based in the prime apple-growing region of Golden Bay/Mohua, Golden Bay Fruit distribute premium apples and pears direct from their orchards to customers both domestically and internationally. Sassy™ apples is no different and has already entered the international market. This variety is exported to Thailand, China, Vietnam, Canada and the United Kingdom (UK). The popularity of Sassy™ apples has led to international licensing partnerships in Australia, China and South Africa.

During Mr Arbuckle’s visit to Golden Bay Fruit, he was impressed by the scale and mechanisation of the Golden Bay Fruit packing house.

“Sassy™ apples are an example of excellence across the supply chain – from research to the orchards, to our supermarkets, and it was great to see the Sassy™ apples variety being packed for export.”

About the Primary Sector Award

The Primary Sector Award recognises all food and beverage producers, researchers and manufacturers who add value to primary products through new varieties, cultivars or breeds; new, innovative or alternative products or new, innovative, or alternative methods or technologies for harvesting, processing or packaging products.

NZFS is proud to recognise operations in the food and fibre sector that are actively maintaining the integrity of the food safety system and promoting a strong food safety culture. Golden Bay Fruit is an excellent example of New Zealand Food Safety’s vision: New Zealand food is trusted by everyone, everywhere.

You can learn more about NZFS and how they support the food and fibre sector by visiting their website.