First Kick! apples auctioned

22-8-2026

On Wednesday, 19 August, the first Dutch Kick!^® summer apples were auctioned at Veiling Zaltbommel. The consignment came from the Baars family in Eck en Wiel, one of the first growers to plant this new apple variety. Kick!^® thus made its debut on the auction clock exactly one year after the brand name was introduced.

Kick! is an early-ripening, scab-resistant summer apple from Fresh Forward’s breeding programme that can be harvested from mid-August. This is around three to four weeks earlier than Elstar and Gala. The variety offers growers an attractive alternative to existing early apple varieties such as Delcorf and enables them to start the new apple season at an early stage.

The apples are medium-sized and firm, and stand out for their distinctive pinkish-red striped colour. The flavour is fresh, juicy and pleasantly sweet-tart, with a firm bite that meets consumer preferences well.

Open concept and available to all growers

Kick!^® is the brand name for Wursixo, a variety bred by the Dutch breeding company Fresh Forward. Kick!^® is marketed under an open concept. This means that any grower who plants trees of the Wursixo variety is free to market the apples produced and may use the Kick!^® brand logo at no additional cost. A one-off licence fee is charged when the trees are purchased. (Source: Fresh Forward press release)