Australian family business Montague is bringing the Kissabel brand of apples Down Under, with fruit expected to be available to consumers for sampling in 2020. 

The brand was launched at Fruit Attraction in Madrid last month by global consortium Ifored, which comprises 14 of the biggest premium apple producers from five continents that will commercialize and market the apples.

As well as Montague, the consortium includes France’s AMG, Blue Whale and IFO itself, Empire World Trade and Worldwide Fruit from the U.K., Swiss company Fenaco, Italian business NovaMela, and Nufri from Spain.

Kissabel fruit is the outcome of more than 20 years of research conducted by French breeder IFO, which crossed red-flesh wild apples with other varieties. IFO says the result is a unique assortment of red-flesh apples, which differ in flesh shade, skin color, flavor and harvest timing.

Three categories representing the range – Kissabel Red, Kissabel Orange and Kissabel Jaune – will hit European markets in the coming weeks and are already being trialed by Montague in Australian orchards at four different locations to understand how the cultivars perform.

Montague aims to plant 14 varieties in the coming years.

Expressions of interest to grow the apple have not yet opened, but when they do anyone interested in growing the apple can apply to Montague to do so under their grower program.

Kissabel will join Montague’s portfolio of branded apples which include Jazz, Smitten, Envy, and Ambrosia.

“We are honoured to be partnering with international breeders Ifored, on the Kissabel® launch,” Montague IP general manager Rowan Little said.

“We are in the process of reinvigorating the Australian apple market and are very excited about this opportunity.”

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