Magic Star (Kentish Kiss, SQ159, Natyra, Sprank)

Magic Star is a bi-coloured apple with a distinct elongated shape, tapering towards the stylar-end (long-conical). The blush is a striped red colouration over-laying a pale-yellow background. Often, there is slight russeting in the stalk cavity. The flesh is pale cream-yellow and has a crisp/cracking texture on biting and gives a firm, crisp chew without being too hard. There is an immediate sense of slight acidity on eating, with good sweetness and an interesting flavour.

Magic Star is a mid to late season variety.

Growers like Magic Star due to its productivity and slow tree growth; resistance to Apple Scab; and high quality fruit with long storage life of up to a year. It is also a suitable variety for organic production.

Good Fruit Guide Rating: ****

Magic Star will appeal to consumers who like a crisp, sweet apple, but prefer a modicum of acidity in the background.

Crisp, sweet, balanced.

Names: WUR200 cv; SQ159; Natyra (for organic production only); Sprank; Magic Star®; Kentish Kiss

Origin: In 1990, SQ159 was developed in the Netherlands by M.J.M. (Rene) Mulders at Plant Research International, Wageningen University & Research. It is derived from a cross between Elise and a scab-resistant selection. The variety was selected due to advantageous tree and fruit characteristics in 1995/6. Technical trials and varietal description were completed in 2013. The breeders name for the tree is WUR200 cv, while Magic Star® is one of the marketing names for the fruit.

Breeding and marketing rights for Magic Star in Europe are controlled by Fresh Forward. Initial sales in Belgium were exclusively through Colruyt supermarkets. In UK, Magic Star was renamed Kentish Kiss in 2015 for exclusive sales through Tesco. In Albert Heijn supermarkets in Holland, the variety is known as Sprank. Plant Breeders Rights in Canada were granted in August 2017. In March 2023, Proprietary Variety Management (PVM) Ltd became the exclusive propagator and commercial manager of WUR200 cv and Magic Star in the USA.

Grown in: Belgium, Holland, UK, USA

Harvest & Availability: Magic Star is harvested around the same time as Braeburn. For sales in the early years of commercial development in UK, the variety was sold in early spring to mid-summer as it stores well under controlled atmosphere conditions – a tasty way to extend the UK marketing season beyond Gala and Braeburn:

• January:
• February:
• March:
• April:                       UK, Holland, Belgium
• May:                        UK, Holland, Belgium
• June:                        UK, Holland, Belgium
• July:                         UK, Holland, Belgium
• August:
• September:
• October:
• November:
• December:

Websites:

Magicstar.eu – Marketing website

Fresh Forward – Breeding and marketing of Magic Star in Europe

Proprietary Variety Management (PVM) – Propagation and commercialisation of Magic Star in USA

Magic Star Plant Breeders Rights – Canadian Food Inspection Agency