The Australian growers of West Australian-bred deep burgundy Bravo apples will harvest approximately 25 per cent more fruit, which will make it available on east coast supermarket shelves until much later this year, as consumer demand for the white-fleshed apple grows.

Managing director of leading Australian fresh fruit supplier WA Farm Direct, Jenny Mercer, says the increase in volume was due to additional plantings and orchard maturity.

Jenny says WA Farm Direct is the licensed marketer for the sale and distribution of Bravo apples in Australia.

Nearly 300ha of the variety ANABP 01, which produces Bravo apples, are under cultivation by 85 growers in key apple-growing regions of Western Australia, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria, with plantings expanding year on year as demand grows in Australia and globally.

The largest of these growing regions are Shepparton in Victoria and Manjimup in Western Australia.

“Plantings are increasing in all key growing states with plans to support both domestic and export markets over the next decade,” Jenny says.

“Some trees are mature and in full production while younger plantings are still maturing,” she says.

“Our growers are the lead characters in the Bravo story and the brand’s success is testament to their efforts.

“They are passionate producers who have a rich tradition of growing superb Australian apples forged by generations before them.

“Their apple-growing expertise, combined with world-leading technologies from farm to table, is now being passed on to the next generation of growers.”

Tight standards ensure consistency

Jenny says each orchard contributes a unique climate and character to the harvest, ensuring every apple delivers the quality and flavour which defines the Bravo brand.

She says WA Farm Direct’s strict quality standards, variety training and advanced technology ensure consistent fruit regardless of location.

Picked by hand and maturity tested on orchards, the apples are either packed on site or at centralised packing facilities.

“Orchardists grow the variety which produces Bravo apples under nets to protect the crop from pests and weather impacts and use precision farming tools and technology to manage tree health and fruit quality,” Jenny explains.

“Packing facilities use infrared grading systems and quality scanners to ensure consistency and that fruit is sent to the right market at the right time,” she says.

The Bravo story so far

Bravo apples were launched in Western Australia in 2016 and have been available on the east coast in small volumes since 2019.

Characterised by their striking deep burgundy skin and flesh that stays white longer than other apples, Bravo apples were a household name in Western Australia and are gaining ground as a consumer favourite on the east coast Jenny says.

The Bravo apple harvest starts in Western Australia and Queensland in March-April and ends in NSW and Victoria in May.

Apples are stored in controlled atmosphere conditions for distribution from April to December.

Bred for flavour and shelf life

The variety ANABP 01 which produces Bravo apples was specially bred by Australian apple breeder John Cripps in 1992 and then developed over two decades by the National Apple Breeding Program.

The variety is a cross between Cripps Red and Royal Gala and was hand-selected for superior flavour, colour and shelf-life.

One of the highest flavonoid-rich apples grown in Australia, most of the health-promoting compounds in Bravo apples are found in the skin.

Once cut, Bravo apples stay white for hours, even days, due to low polyphenol oxidase activity and high antioxidants which slows browning.

Jenny says premium Bravo apples had a brix level ranging between 14-18 per cent which contributed to its delicious, sweet and complex flavour profile.

“These distinctive colour, flavour and health attributes are prompting strong international interest from our growing export markets in Asia and the Middle East,” she says.