2026 FIZZ™ Apple Harvest Begins, Commercial Plantings Expand

The 2026 FIZZ™ apple harvest is underway, marking another milestone for the distinctive new variety which is the only apple grown in New Zealand to have a vibrant pinky-red flesh. 

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 market by Prevar, a joint venture established to commercialise new apple and pear varieties. FIZZ™ is exclusively licensed to New Zealand produce company Snazzy Fruit for fresh fruit production and sales. 

Snazzy Fruit managing director, Josh Parlane, says for the 2026 season volumes of FIZZ™ remain limited but production is steadily increasing. 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 commercialgrade harvest from young trees yielded around 10 tonnes in Hawke’s Bay, while the impact of hail during the season prevented packing fruit grown in Nelson. 

Josh Parlane says 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.”

Parlane says 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.

Bioeconomy Science Institute apple breeder Dr Richard Volz, who led the breeding of the apple cultivar marketed as FIZZ™, says the variety is an exciting new offering for New Zealand’s apple industry.

“There’s some really unique traits in this cultivar that stand out and appeal to consumers, including its vibrant pinkred flesh coloration and bold, effervescent berrylike flavour,” says Dr Volz.

“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.“

Brand Manager of Prevar, Amanda Lyon, says FIZZ™ is one of the most recent varieties to join Prevar's wider portfolio of apple brands licensed worldwide, including Rockit™, Joli™, Dazzle™, Sassy™ and PIQA® Pears.

“FIZZ™ has broad market appeal and strong potential to perform well in premium markets worldwide. It’s great to see this variety making its way into the hands of more consumers and commercial plantings continuing to expand.”

Notes:

About Snazzy Fruit 

Snazzy Fruit Company Ltd specialises in the export of premium New Zealand produce. For more information visit www.snazzyfruit.nz 

About Prevar 

Prevar is a private joint venture company based in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. Our shareholders are New  Zealand Apples & Pears Incorporated, Bioeconomy Science Institute, and Apple and Pear Australia Limited.  Prevar was established in 2004 to develop and commercialise new apple and pear varieties for licensing in  New Zealand and around the world. Our role is to provide access to innovative new varieties that meet the  changing needs of consumers, enhance category growth, have positive and sustainable environmental  impacts while generating price premiums and premium returns for growers. For more information visit www.prevar.co.nz 

About the Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao 

The Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao brings AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua - Landcare  Research, Plant & Food Research and Scion together into a single organisation, conducting research to  advance innovation in agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, forestry, biotechnology and manufacturing,  protect and enhance ecosystems from biosecurity threats and climate risks and develop new bio-based  technologies and products. For more information visit www.bioeconomyscience.co.nz

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