Scientists unveil new look apple 

New Zealand scientists have unveiled a new weapon in the competitive apple market.

The colour may surprise, but they say it's all in the name of healthier living. They're red, not just outside but in and not just for looks.

HortResearch says the red-fleshed apple has more than the usual disease preventing anti-oxidants.

"Red-fleshed ones because of their particular chemicals have particularly high levels of them," says HortResearch chief scientist Ian Ferguson.

Hopes are high for their future and on their first public outing reaction was mixed - some were impressed and willing to try the new fruit, while others thought it was unnatural.

The red flesh is a result of six years of government-backed genetic research and it's been revealed at an international genomic conference in Napier.

HortResearch has discovered that among the thousands of apple gene sequences, there are three which dictate colour.

It's not genetic engineering but something they call precision breeding - a result of crossing ornamental red apples from Kazakhstan with common white-fleshed varieties.

"We've waited for those seedlings to produce fruit and then we've assessed those fruit and selected the best ones," says Richard Volz, a HortResearch fruit breeder.

It's hoped their novelty-factor combined with growing consumer awareness of the benefits of red fruits and veggies will help revive the industry.

"What we want of course is for those apple growers to be able to make use of this kind of product to re-position themselves again as world leaders," says Steve Maharey, Research, Science and Technology Minister.

While they look good, scientists say they're still refining the taste to make them sweeter because right now they are a bit sour. Once that is sorted the new variety will be geared up for commercial growing and could be on supermarket shelves in about five years time.