The Gala Supreme apple variety, which has been in development since an enthusiastic New Zealand backpacker noticed its good qualities more than 12 years ago, is in ‘very early days’ according to its grower’s marketing and communications professional, Nic Giblett, “We don’t want to go shouting from the rooftops unless it’s working in the market place,” she told Fresh Plaza in an e-mail. So far though, the news is looking good for more, larger harvests in years to come.
The new apple variety, grown by Newton Brother Orchards in Manjimup, WA is described as “beautiful, with a crisp skin, lovely aroma and crunchy texture,” in an article for the West Australian. The variety is particularly exciting because it develops a luscious pink-red colour but does not need expensive reflective mats to achieve this, and does not need to have leaves removed as other red varieties do.
According to reports, the orchard staff has packed 60,000kg so far of the Gala Supreme, and the hope is that that number will be as high as 100,000 within a couple of years.
The Gala Supreme was found growing on a gala tree branch on Glenn Simcock’s orchard property in the Perup district, 22km west of Manjimup. It was originally known as Perup Pride, but is now being sold to consumers as Gala Supreme for the first time under the Newton Orchards and Genuinely labels.
Gala Supreme is just one early variety of seven grown by Newton Brother Orchards, which also includes Granny Smith, Pink Lady (Newton Orchards was among the first to grow the WA-developed Pink Lady commercially), Royal Gala, Gala, Sundowner, Fuji and Red Delicious. Three new trademarked varieties have also recently been planted, Jazz, Greenstar and Kanzi.
For more information
Newton Brother Orchards
Phone: +61 8 9771 1135
E-mail: info@newtonorchards.com.au
Website: www.newtonorchards.com.au