Breeze™ Apples
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Breeze™ apples vary in size and shape, depending on their growing region and cultivation conditions, but are generally a medium to large cultivar averaging 7 to 9 centimeters in diameter. The variety has a conical appearance with broad shoulders tapering to a narrow base, and the surface exhibits some ribbing. The stems are typically dark brown, long, slender, and fibrous. The skin is firm, smooth, semi-thin, and taut with a sheen, ripening from green to golden yellow. Breeze™ apples are known for their saturated patches of blush. The blush can be translucent to solid on the surface, varying with the amount of sunlight received during cultivation, and appears in shades of dark red, bright red, red-orange, and pink. There is some striping around the stem cavity and tiny yellow lenticels are scattered across the surface. Underneath the skin, the flesh is dense, moderately grained, and succulent with a crisp and chewy consistency. The flesh also encases a small central core filled with tiny black-brown seeds. Breeze™ apples emit a faintly sweet and floral aroma and are edible once ripe. The variety has an initially sweet and tangy taste with mild, refreshing, fruity, and floral flavors.
Seasons/Availability
Breeze™ apples are available in the late summer through fall. The variety is grown in both hemispheres and is sometimes found in select markets year-round as shipments are seasonally sourced from regions within the northern and southern hemispheres.
Current Facts
Breeze™ apples, botanically classified as Malus domestica, are a New Zealand variety belonging to the Rosaceae family. The early-season apples were discovered growing as a chance seedling in a Gala orchard on New Zealand’s South Island in the late 20th century and were selected for commercial propagation for the apple’s flavor, coloring, and early maturation. Breeze™ apples are one of the first varieties to appear in markets in New Zealand and are shipped worldwide as a promoted early-season cultivar. The variety has seen success in Asian markets for its large size, sweet flavoring, and red-pink coloring and arrives in retail when other apples are absent from the market, providing consumers with more options and an extended apple season. Breeze™ apples ripen several weeks earlier than Gala apples, which are also labeled as an early-season apple, and expanded in cultivation in the early 21st century to be grown in both hemispheres for almost year-round production. In the modern day, Breeze™ apples are a specialty cultivar produced for commercial markets. The variety is also promoted by New Zealand growers for having a long shelf life if stored properly, which is an unusual trait for early-season apples. Breeze™ apples are a versatile cultivar utilized in a wide array of sweet or savory culinary preparations.
Nutritional Value
Breeze™ apples have not been extensively studied for their nutritional properties. Apples, in general, are a source of fiber to regulate the digestive tract, calcium to support bones and teeth, phosphorus to help the body create adenosine triphosphate or ATP, and potassium to balance fluid levels within the body. Apples also provide some iron to develop the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, magnesium to control nerve functions, zinc to protect against viruses and bacteria, and other nutrients, including copper, manganese, riboflavin, folate, thiamin, and vitamins A, E, and K. The red pigments in the skin indicate the presence of anthocyanins and polyphenols, natural compounds that contribute antioxidant-like properties to guard the cells in the body against the damage caused by free radicals.
Applications
Breeze™ apples have a mild, sweet, and floral flavor suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The variety is favored for its early season arrival and is primarily consumed straight out of hand as a snack or dessert apple. Breeze™ apples can be consumed with or without their skin, depending on preference, and are often added to salads and slaws as a crunchy addition. The variety can be sliced and served on cheese boards, tucked into sandwiches, thinly cut and layered into fresh spring rolls, or chopped and mixed into fruit medleys. Breeze™ apples can be incorporated into any recipe calling for sweet fruits. In addition to raw preparations, Breeze™ apples are sometimes baked into crisps, crumbles, tarts, pies, and cakes. They are also combined with other varieties to make fillings for doughnuts and baked goods or simmered into sauces, jams, jellies, butter, and other preserves. Beyond culinary dishes, Breeze™ apples can be blended into smoothies, juices, shakes, and ciders. Breeze™ apples pair well with cranberries, peas, mint, carrots, turnips, nuts, including walnuts, pistachios, almonds, and pecans, and fruits such as dragon fruit, kiwis, strawberries, and grapes. Whole, unwashed Breeze™ apples will keep for several weeks when stored in a cool, dry, and dark location such as a cellar or the refrigerator’s crisper drawer. In professional cold storage, the variety can last up to several months.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Breeze™ apples are said to have acquired their name from their discoverers Bruce Fraser and Steve Ryder. In a short cartoon video shared on the Facebook page of Breeze™ apples in May 2022, it is said the name Breeze™ arose when Fraser and Ryder were discussing what to call the variety. Both growers initially suggested their first names for the apples, and then it is alluded to that Breeze™ may have been inspired from a combination of the names Bruce and Steve. Breeze™ apples are promoted by Freshco in New Zealand as an apple that has been given ample sunshine. On the apple variety’s marketing website, it highlights that the fruits are exposed to over 1,000 hours of sunshine during their growing season, which is a key factor in contributing to the pleasing physical attributes and flavor. The apples are also grown in regions with warm days, cool nights, and fertile soil, allowing the fruits to develop optimum qualities for commercial markets.
Geography/History
Breeze™ apples are native to New Zealand and were discovered growing as a chance seedling in the late 20th century. Apple growers Steve Ryder and Bruce Fraser noticed apples ripening on a tree in one of their Gala orchards in the Tasman district of New Zealand’s South Island. The fruits on the tree were appearing earlier than the other apples in the orchard, and when the growers tried the fruits, they found that it had a pleasing mild and sweet flavor. Fraser and Ryder took cuttings from the mystery tree and began propagating it, eventually creating an entire orchard of the new trees. The parentage of the apple is unknown, but the new variety was found in a Gala orchard and is thought to be a sport, ripening two weeks earlier than Gala. In the early 21st century, New Zealand-based exporter and grower Freshco partnered with Ryder and Fraser to introduce the new variety to commercial markets under the trademarked name Breeze™ for retail branding. Breeze™ apples were initially planted in orchards within the Nelson and Hawke’s Bay regions and were grown in limited quantities for domestic and international export. Around 2014, Breeze™ apples were sold through the Sage Fruit Company, an apple company based in Yakima, Washington, and the apples were initially imported from New Zealand. The Sage Fruit Company eventually planted Breeze™ apple orchards in Washington and began supplying American retail markets with domestically-grown fruits. Breeze™ apples were also exported from New Zealand to China around 2016 and quickly became a popular variety for its coloring, flavor, and early arrival in markets. Breeze™ apples often appear in markets when other commercial varieties are not around, allowing them to fill a gap within the apple retail sector. Since their introduction, Breeze™ apples have expanded in cultivation throughout New Zealand and exports are increasing to countries worldwide. Today, Breeze™ apples are grown in New Zealand and Washington State in the United States. When in season, the apples are sold domestically and exported from New Zealand to markets throughout Asia, especially in China, Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand, and the Middle East. The Breeze™ apples featured in the photograph above were sourced from The Fresh Market, a specialty food store in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
