EU: Rockit: long-lasting apples in a tube

The Limburg Auction (LTV), in collaboration with nursery Rene Nicolai, will market the New Zealand Rockit concept this year. The concept entails a plastic tube containing five small apples. Rockit apples originally come from the east coast of New Zealand, where they have been on the market since 2010. The miniature apple is an innovative product introduced by Havelock North Fruit Company and is currently available in New Zealand, Asia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Starting this year, the apples will also be launched on Belgian and Scandinavian markets.

Florent Geerdens of Arboriculture company Rene Nicolaī indicates that he saw the variety for the first time during a visit in New Zealand, about ten years ago. "This variety stems from a cross-breeding program of The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research. The apple is fantastic and tasty. The bright red color is tremendously appealing. In the beginning there was a love-hate relationship with this breed, in New Zealand anyway. Everything was good: the taste, the bite, but the apple was considered too small. Phil Alison, owner of Havelock North Fruit Company, came up with the idea of the Rockit. He has fully developed the concept and currently holds the master license. Rene Nicolai has the rights to grow the trees. Havelock was looking for parties to market the Rockit and we introduced them to LTV. Our company supplies the trees and the production equipment, and LTV will market the concept."

According to Petra Wautraets, LTV was immediately sold upon seeing the product. "Approximately 18 months ago the Rockit c was presented to us. Shortly thereafter we signed the contract. We are now the exclusive grower in Belgium and seller in the Benelux and Scandinavia (LTV Fresh). We think it's a unique concept. These are the only apples that are this beautiful and long-lasting, and they are just perfect for the tube pack."

For more information:
Florent Geerdens
Boomkwekerij René Nicolaï nv
Lindestraat 22
3570 Alken
T (+32) 11 31 21 25
F (+32) 11 31 65 26
info@renenicolai.be
www.renenicolai.be

Or:
Petra Wautraets
Limburgse Tuinbouw Veiling
Industrieweg 1035
3540 Herk-De-Stad
Tel.: +(32) 13 55 01 10
Fax: +(32) 13 55 46 45
www.ltv.be
info@ltv.be