FirstFruits launches Sweetie apple variety

09/26/2012
Mike Hornick

Courtesy FirstFruits Marketing Prescott, Wash.-based FirstFruits of Washington has begun retail shipments of Sweetie, a new red apple variety.

Grown by Broetje Orchards and sold by First Fruits Marketing, the trademarked variety combines traits of gala and braeburn and is being offered as an intensely sweet apple, according to a news release.

Like Opal, another Broetje-grown variety, Sweetie appeared in limited release initially. It went national after favorable responses from consumers of gala and fuji apples, according to the company.

First planted in New Zealand, Sweetie’s initial U.S. orchard was a 30-acre test block in Prescott, Wash. In the last two years, more blocks were planted.

“Launching a new variety is a very complex process,” Andy Tudor, marketing manager at FirstFruits of Washington, said in the release. “The fruit needs to be grower friendly, have a good shelf life and appearance, and have some kind of unique quality to get people to try it. Sweetie has all of those characteristics.”

Braeburn, one of the origins of the new variety, contributed a firm, crisp texture, according to the company.

Sweetie’s price look-up number is 3628. The apple is expected to appear in the new product showcase at the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit Oct. 26-28. FirstFruits Marketing will be at booth 743.

Comments (9) Leave a comment 

There are over 200 varieties of apples . Do we really need more?

Just hit our market and they are WONDERFUL!!! Much preferred over the honeycrisp which tends to be very large (too much to eat at once) and high priced.

Actually, there's over 7,000 varieties!

when do we get them I would like to try them, we love the Honeycrisp

Honeycrisp - year round! Now we're talking!
(and hey...NEVER TOO BIG!)

I'm eating one right now. Delicious!!!!! Crisp & Sweet. My new fav.

I'm not much of an apple person - saw this variety at Sweetbay earlier this week and had to buy some. They are delicious!

I was in Brookshire's looking for a box of Honey Crisp apples. The produce man didnot have a box. I ask what he did have, I bought a box of Sweetie apples. The size is very good. The flavor is very nice. I can make apple saladas and use much less sugar. Of course the apple is a nature sleep aid. They are very good before bed. During the holidays I can make an apple pie much faster. The texture may be like a pudding when they are cooked 45 minutes. I gambled on a new apple and I won. Thanks Loretta