Bravo® apples, the distinctive burgundy apples grown throughout Australia, are winning over fans on the east coast this spring, having been named one of Australia's healthiest snacks.
One of the highest flavonoid-rich apples grown in Australia, Bravo® apples have won the Best Fresh Snack category in the 2025 Healthy Food Guide Awards Australia announced on September 1.
For leading Australian fresh fruit supplier and marketer WA Farm Direct, the award acknowledges extensive and ongoing research and development into Bravo apples' impressive nutritional profile and solidifies their position as a top-tier snack choice.
"We are incredibly proud that Bravo apples have been officially recognised as one of Australia's healthiest snacks," WA Farm Direct managing director Jenny Mercer said.
"The award is due to the dedication of our growers who ensure every single apple meets the quality standards." Bravo apples are now in peak season.
Scientists explore Bravo health benefits
Ms Mercer said a report funded by Fruit West Cooperative found Bravo® apples contained a high level of anthocyanins in their naturally deep burgundy skin.
"Research by Dr Ruey Leng Loo at the Australian National Phenome Centre (ANPC) at Murdoch University in Perth, continues with human medical trials looking at the benefits of eating a Bravo® a day, if it will keep the doctor away and for how long. Results are expected by the end of the year. Fruit West Cooperative with the West Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development have assisted with funding the project," she said.
"Research into a range of apples, including Bravo®, shows flavonoids are concentrated in the apple skin while chlorogenic acid is found in both the skin and flesh.
"There's nothing more natural and easier than getting your health benefits from a fresh Bravo® apple as they are high in natural sugars, antioxidants and fibre and are slow to brown when cut."
© WA Farm Direct
Spring into store for a Bravo
Approximately 25 per cent more Bravo apples are available on east coast supermarket shelves this season in response to consumer demand.
The variety ANABP 01 which produces Bravo® apples was specially bred by Australian apple breeder John Cripps in 1992 and developed over two decades by the National Apple Breeding Program. It is a cross between Cripps Red and Royal Gala and was hand-selected for superior flavour, colour and shelf-life. It was launched in Western Australia in 2016.
Consumers are encouraged to look for Bravo® apples in their local fruit and vegetable aisles, available now in abundance across all good fresh produce retailers nationally until December.
The Healthy Food Guide Awards recognise and celebrate the most nutritious food products on Australian supermarket shelves over 17 categories and are presented by Healthy Food Guide magazine. The awards are judged by a team of accredited dietitians who analyse hundreds of products to discover the most nutritious and best value-for-money products.
© WA Farm Direct