As the only New Zealand-grown apple with a vibrant pinky-red flesh, the 2026 FIZZ apple harvest is underway.
This is the second year of commercial production of ‘PremA021’, marketed as FIZZ apples, which were developed through the Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao breeding programme and introduced to the market by Prevar.
Bioeconomy Science Institute apple breeder Dr Richard Volz, who led the breeding of the apple cultivar marketed as FIZZ, said the variety was an exciting new offering for New Zealand’s apple industry.
“There are some really unique traits in this cultivar that stand out and appeal to consumers, including its vibrant pink‑red flesh colouration and bold, effervescent berry‑like flavour,” he said.
“It’s really rewarding to have bred a variety that provides differentiation and an opportunity to diversify orchard portfolios, but importantly, we’ve also developed a cultivar with strong cropping performance.”
FIZZ is exclusively licensed to the New Zealand produce company Snazzy Fruit for fresh fruit production and sales. Snazzy Fruit managing director, Josh Parlane, said that for the 2026 season, FIZZ volumes remain limited, but production has steadily increased.
The company expects to harvest up to 54 tonnes of the fruit across Hawke’s Bay and Nelson if conditions remain favourable. Last year’s inaugural commercial‑grade harvest from young trees yielded around ten tonnes in Hawke’s Bay, while the impact of hail during the season prevented packing fruit grown in Nelson.
According to Parlane, this season Snazzy Fruit plans to ship limited volumes of FIZZ apples to key markets, including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, and Canada. These shipments will be channelled through online platforms, niche retailers, and select partners.
“FIZZ is still a new market offering, and these shipments will support our consumer testing and early market development, helping us build understanding of how consumers interact with the apple ahead of future volume growth,” he said.
Parlane added that plans are underway to scale up the limited FIZZ plant material available in New Zealand. Over the 2025 winter period, approximately 20,000 new FIZZ trees and grafts were established on orchards, with plantings split almost evenly between Hawke’s Bay and Nelson.
FIZZ is one of the most recent varieties to join Prevar's worldwide portfolio of apple brands, including Rockit, Joli, Dazzle, Sassy and PIQA Pears.
