Visitors have gathered at a fruit and vegetable store in New Zealand to view a rare and unusual apple, which is half red and half yellow.
The apple is almost evenly split in colour down the middle. It was found in mid-May among a batch of ripe, red, juicy, sweet and crisp apples delivered to the Sunshine Corner Market in the suburb of Mairehau in Christchurch.
The rare fruit is believed to occur in fewer than one in a million apples. The condition is caused by a genetic mutation, resulting in fruit formed from cells with two distinct genetic backgrounds.
Speaking to local media, store owner Heather said the apple had become something of a local curiosity. She said people who see it return home to tell their spouses, who often do not believe them, prompting return visits to show it in person. Many visitors have taken photographs of the fruit, which has drawn considerable attention.
Heather added that she had never seen a two-toned apple before, despite many years in the trade. Some customers have even asked to touch it for luck before taking part in competitions.
She said the apple has been kept in a refrigerator to extend its shelf life, though a decision will soon be required on whether it should be preserved or cut open to see its interior.
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