Napier Apple To Be Sold In 1965

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30289, 15 November 1963, Page 16

Napier Apple To Be Sold In 1965

(New Zealand Press Association) NAPIER, November 14. Napier’s famous freak apple, provisionally called Red Frisca, will be available in New Zealand fruit shops in the winter of 1965. The Napier couple, Mr and Mrs C. Roberts —who found the apple seedling growing in their Nelson crescent garden purely by chance—have just arranged for the propagation and distribution of the apple in New Zealand.

The apple will be handled by a Palmerston North nursery, which will also deal with its introduction to other southern hemisphere countries. Earlier this year, Mr and Mrs Roberts signed a £3300 contract with the world's largest orchardists, Stark Bros., .Missouri, for rights to grow the apple in America, Canada and Mexico. They will receive more royalties as the apple is marketed in these countries, and in European markets. Mr R. E. Harrison, head of the Palmerston North firm, had paid a £lOO royalty for the sole rights for propagation and distribution. “But the apple will earn Mr and Mrs Roberts very much more than that in New Zealand for we have agreed to pay gratuitous payments as the apple turns out to our mutual advantage," he said Mr Harrison said his firm intended to deal with the introduction of the apples into other countries in the southern hemisphere.

Negotiations were under way at present for an Australian contract, and an offer which would mean an initial payment of £6OO to Mr and Mrs Roberts was under consideration. Discussion had also started with a South African interest, but as yet no contract had been drawn up, said Mr Harrison. He said Mr and Mrs Roberts had also received an inquiry from Israel, but that -vould be dealt with by Stark Bros. Mr Harrison said his firm was grafting this spring and specimens would be budding next autumn. It was hoped there would be sufficient bud wood provided for the release of 12,000 trees in the first year for the New Zealand market “It means that by the winter of 1965 New Zealanders will be able to buy the apple in retail shops,” he said.