In good company

Sassy™ Apples Featured During Prime Minister’s Vietnam Visit

February 2025

Sassy™ Apples were proudly served during New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s official visit to Vietnam, marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Vietnam.

The visit followed the signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Hanoi with Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, highlighting the growing strength of the bilateral relationship and the importance of trade and food diplomacy between the two countries.

With a population of more than 100 million people and a rapidly expanding middle class, Vietnam is a key strategic market for New Zealand’s premium food exports. For Sassy™ grower Golden Bay Fruit, it represents a long-term growth opportunity built on shared values around quality, trust and partnership.

Sassy™ Apples were a standout on the evening’s menu, served to guests and dignitaries and paired with a caramel cream cheese dip created by a celebrated Ho Chi Minh City–based chef. The pairing highlighted Sassy™’s dense crunch, balanced sweetness and vibrant flavour profile — qualities that define the variety and resonate strongly with Vietnamese consumers.

A special acknowledgement goes to the teams from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their role in delivering a successful event that strengthened commercial and diplomatic ties.

Being selected for service during such a significant occasion underscores Sassy™’s position as a premium New Zealand apple — one that reflects innovation, provenance and the collaborative spirit behind New Zealand’s global food partnerships.