Sassy™ Down under
Sassy™ Apples Take Root in Australia with Redland Premium Fruit
Sassy™ Apples have found a welcoming home in Australia, with Redland Premium Fruit successfully introducing the variety to the domestic market from the Goulburn Valley in Victoria.
Redland is a vertically integrated grower, packer and marketer with a diverse horticultural portfolio spanning citrus, grapes, apples, pears and gold kiwifruit. While much of the company’s citrus and table grape production is export focused, apples and pears are grown primarily for Australian consumers.
“With limited export access for Australian apples, our focus is firmly on delivering the best possible eating experience to the domestic market,” says Jordan Bain, Head of Marketing at Redland.
A new-season IP apple for Australian consumers
Sassy™ is one of the very first proprietary (IP) apples to kick off the new season, offering consumers a premium eating experience at a time when choice can be limited. Redland began planting Sassy™ in the Goulburn Valley in 2021, attracted by its early harvest window, strong colour development and eating quality.
While a major hail event delayed the first commercial volumes, the variety is now entering its stride. For the 2025 season, Redland expects volumes of approximately 15,000–20,000 cartons, marking an important milestone for the variety in Australia.
Grower-friendly, heat tolerant and visually striking
Exclusively grown in the Goulburn Valley, Sassy™ has proven to be well suited to the region’s warm climate. Hot daytime temperatures combined with cooler nights support rapid colour development, resulting in a bold, block-red apple with attractive shape and finish.
“It’s a very grower-friendly variety,” says Bain. “The fruit has great size, shape and colour, and it performs exceptionally well in our conditions. When the sun comes out, the colour really pops.”
A compelling alternative to Gala
As Gala apples approach the end of their commercial lifecycle in parts of the region, Sassy™ is emerging as a strong early-season alternative. While Gala is often positioned as the first new-season apple, quality can be inconsistent in hotter growing regions.
“Sassy™ delivers a better and more reliable eating experience,” Bain explains. “It may sit at a slightly higher price point than Gala, but the quality, appearance and consistency more than justify it.”
Building momentum in Australian retail
Redland currently supplies Sassy™ to around 200 independent retailers across Australia and is optimistic about expanding into larger retail programmes in the future. As an early-season IP variety, Sassy™ offers retailers a point of difference at the start of the apple season — combining strong shelf appeal with genuine eating quality.
With plans for increased planting and openness to collaboration with additional growers, Redland is committed to growing Sassy™ carefully and sustainably within Australia, ensuring demand continues to lead supply.