Novaspy apple. Novaspy is a scab-resistant apple that has been planted as an alternative to Northern Spy. Growers like it because it needs fewer (if any) fungicide sprays, and the pie plants accept it because it is almost indistinguishable from Northern Spy. The Novaspy we observed appeared far more precocious than Spy and had an entirely different growth habit with a distinct resemblance to the common alder.