Posy™ Apples
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Posy™ apples are small in size, averaging 7 to 9 centimeters in diameter and 6 to 7 centimeters in length, and have a round to conical shape with flat, sloping shoulders, a broad middle, and a narrow base. The fruit’s skin is thin, smooth, lightly glossy, and taut, featuring a few bumps beneath the surface. The skin is also delicate, bruising easily, and ripens to golden yellow hues blushed with variegated red-pink patches. The blush can be solid to translucent, depending on the amount of sun exposure during cultivation, and pale golden lenticels are scattered across the surface. Underneath the skin, the white to ivory flesh is fine-grained, aqueous, and firm with a crisp, crunchy, and succulent consistency. The flesh also envelops a fibrous central core filled with tiny black-brown seeds. Posy™ apples emit a subtly sweet and fruity aroma with a faint, peach-like scent. The variety is edible raw or cooked and is known for its high sugar content, reaching around 14 Brix. This sugar content is combined with low acidity, creating a mild, sweet, fruity, and subtly floral taste with melon, persimmon, and peach nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Posy™ apples are harvested in early February in New Zealand. They are also grown in regions of the Northern Hemisphere for late summer harvests in August.
Current Facts
Posy™ apples, botanically classified as Malus domestica, are a New Zealand variety belonging to the Rosaceae family. The early-season cultivar is one of the first apples to appear in commercial markets in New Zealand and are a modern variety chosen for their sweet taste and bright coloring. Posy™ apples were released in the early 21st century and were initially cultivated in New Zealand for export to Asia. Since their arrival in commercial markets, production has expanded, and the variety is promoted as an early-season fruit with a distinct peach-like fragrance. Posy™ apples are still relatively new and are not well known outside of New Zealand, Australia, and Asia. The variety is slowly increasing as brand awareness rises among consumers. Posy™ apples are grown organically and are positioned as a fresh eating, or dessert cultivar.
Nutritional Value
Posy™ apples have not been extensively studied for their nutritional properties. Apples, in general, are a source of vitamin E to protect the cells against the damage caused by free radicals, vitamin A to maintain healthy organs, vitamin C to boost the immune system, and fiber to regulate the digestive tract. Apples also provide various polyphenols with antioxidant properties to reduce inflammation and support overall bodily health. Beyond vitamins and fiber, Posy™ apples may contain some potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, copper to develop connective tissues, calcium to support bones and teeth, magnesium to control optimal nerve functioning, and iron to produce the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream.
Applications
Posy™ apples have a sweet, mild, and subtly fruity taste suited for raw and cooked preparations. The variety is primarily marketed as a fresh eating or dessert cultivar, meaning it is consumed out of hand. Posy™ apples can be eaten with or without their skin, depending on preference, and the small fruits are sometimes sliced and served as an edible, sweet garnish over dishes. The variety is also cut and dipped into spreads such as nut butter and caramel, or it is chopped and tossed into grain bowls, green salads, and fruit medleys. Try slicing and serving the sweet fruits on cheese boards or using diced pieces as an edible topping for oatmeal, pancakes, and slaws. In addition to raw, solid preparations, Posy™ apples can be blended into smoothies, juices, and other beverages. They are also occasionally cooked, but their flesh tends to break down. Posy™ apples can be mixed with other apple varieties in sauces, jams, jellies, and syrups. They can also be used as filling in baked goods. Posy™ apples pair well with spices such as ginger, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup, brown sugar, and nuts including pine, almond, walnut, and pistachios. Whole, unwashed Posy™ apples will keep for a few weeks when stored in a cool, dry, and dark place, such as a cellar or the refrigerator. It is recommended to immediately consume the variety after purchase for the best quality and flavor. Early-season apples last for shorter periods of storage compared to mid and late-season fruits.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Posy™ apples were initially exported and sold in China through Fruit Day, an e-commerce platform specializing in importing fruits into China. Bostock New Zealand and Mr. Apple chose Posy™ apples for export as they believed the apple’s characteristics matched the qualities demanded in Asian markets. Posy™ apples showcase a bright, joyful, and uplifting red-pink hue and their skin is delicate and thin. The fruits also release a light peach fragrance, a scent highly favored in China. Peaches often symbolize vitality and longevity, and there are many legends involving peaches and immortality in Chinese mythology. Throughout history, peaches have remained a popular fruit in Chinese celebrations and Posy™ apples hope to embody the same feeling of the cherished fruits through their fruity and floral scent. Posy™ apples are also grown organically, an important trait in Chinese markets for health-conscious communities and are one of the first imported apples to arrive in China in the spring, giving rise to their floral moniker. Historically, posies were small bouquets of fresh flowers with an aromatic nature. The petite bunches were once used during the Victorian Era as a refreshing scent to inhale, and in the modern day, posy bouquets embody the freshness of flowers blooming in spring. Posy™ apples are known for their light, fruity, and peach-like scent, and offer refreshing flavors and aromas during the eating experience, similar to the floral bouquets of the same name.
Geography/History
Posy™ apples are native to New Zealand and were developed by apple breeder David Cranwell in Havelock North, a town in the Hawke’s Bay region. Mr. Cranwell has been breeding apples for over fifty years and crossed Royal Gala apples with New Zealand Rose apples, two varieties famous in New Zealand for their physical characteristics and flavor. Hawke’s Bay is also a well-known apple growing region in New Zealand as the climate is influenced by sea breezes, ample sunshine, soil, and balance between warm and chill hours. After the initial crossbreeding, Mr. Cranwell partnered with Bostock New Zealand, the country’s largest organic apple grower, and Mr. Apple, a grower, packer, marketer, and exporter, to exclusively grow and promote the new variety. It took over twenty years for Posy™ apples to be cultivated and evaluated before their release to commercial markets in the early 21st century. Once production reached enough volume for sales, Bostock New Zealand and Mr. Apple worked together to position Posy™ apples as an exported variety to Asia. The partnership was confident that the sweet, delicate nature of Posy™ apples combined with their coloring and early arrival would appeal to the demands within Asian markets. Posy™ apples were first shipped to Asia sometime around 2019 and has since become a popular organic variety in China. The variety also expanded globally in production around 2023. Today, Posy™ apples are being cultivated and shipped to select markets worldwide. The Posy™ apples featured in the photograph above were sourced from The Fresh Market, a specialty food store in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
