Varieties Of Apples

Sep 17 2011

Survey reveals apple identity crisis

The National Trust has revealed that despite the UK being a nation of apple lovers, the majority of Britons cannot identify home grown varieties.

The charity is urging people to ‘take the right bite’ this Autumn to make the most of the unique British flavours available and help save UK orchards.

Heritage varieties of apples collected in a wooden tray - Credit-NTPL / William-Shaw.

Research shows that although more than half of us, 53%, crunch into an apple each week. However, 41% of people who eat apples find it difficult to pick out British grown apples.

While British grown varieties such as the Bramley, Cox Orange Pippin and Egremont Russet are recognised by some apple eaters, 61% of adults wrongly guessed that the Granny Smith is grown on UK soil, when it originates from Australia. Similarly, almost a quarter of people (23%) thought that the Pink Lady is grown in the UK.

As part of its Food Glorious Food campaign , the National Trust has launched its guide ‘How to eat an apple’ to encourage people to buy British grown apples and help ensure our apple heritage is preserved.

Fiona Reynolds, Director General at the National Trust said: “British apples are now being harvested and we’re spoilt for choice with local flavours. Whether it’s the rich, sweet Cox, or the nutty Egremont Russet we urge everyone to chose and enjoy home grown varieties throughout the day. We need more people to choose British and help protect our orchards. 70 % of apples bought in the UK are imported and this must change.”

The survey also showed that a quarter of 18-24 year olds do not eat apples at all.

Rachel Brewer, Pommelier for the National Trust, said: “It’s been another fantastic year for apples, all thanks to our unusually hot Spring, which has meant apple blossom has been able to set earlier. There’s such a variety of UK apples ready for picking at the moment; Early Worcester, is a great eating apple and Tom Putt, perfect for cider, but also a very good juice apple too. My favourite is the Ten Commandments, a bright red, really sweet apple which goes brilliantly with blue cheese and port.”

Research sources

Some data supplied by YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2000 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 1 to 4 July 2011. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

Additional data supplied by Campaign for Real Farming; http://www.campaignforrealfarming.org/2010/06/community-orchards/

Sep 08 2011

Over 365 varieties of cider apples grown in UK

Over 29 new varieties of cider apple have been created following a selection and propagation process that started in 1984. With many being harvested for the first time this year.

Over 365 cidre apples are grown in the UK. - credit NACM

The new apple varieties have in the main been given female names – Lizzy, Amelia, Amanda, Jenny, Hastings, Connie, Helen’s Apple, Jane, Tina, Vicky, Naomi, Nicky, Angela, Gilly, Willy, Joanna, Maggie, Hannah, Jean, Sally, Fiona, Tracey, Eleni, Betty and Debbie.

Royal connections

There is a royal connection with the naming of another as Prince William and three other varieties Three Counties, Shamrock and Early Bird make up the new batch.

The final apple selection was made in 2007 and a first crop is being harvested in 2011 to join the existing 365 varieties already grown in the UK.

It can take up to five years for new orchards to produce apples and it is typically ten years before the grower will breakeven following the investment to plant a new orchard.

Over two million new cider apple trees were planted between 1995 and 2006.

New apple varieties

Many of the new varieties of apple have taken 25 years to breed .

[pullquote]Harvest is an important and exciting time but even more so given the time and effort invested to produce new varieties.
Liz Copas, consultant pomologist to the NACM [/pullquote]

The long-term project is being managed by NACM as part of ongoing research to improve the quality of apples available to cider makers.

Working on the project throughout has been Liz Copas, consultant pomologist to the NACM and a leading authority on cider apples.

One new variety has even been named ‘Lizzy’ after her.

She said: ”Harvest is an important and exciting time but even more so given the time and effort invested to produce new varieties.

”We hope to prove that the new fruit offers growers and cider makers the best combination of juice quality and high yields whilst requiring limited intervention during the growing season.”

Cider apples differ from culinary and dessert fruit as the cider maker is interested in what flavours are present in the apple juice to be able to produce a range of styles of cider are possible.

The hundreds of varieties of apples each offer different levels of tannin, acidity, astringency and natural sweetness – all the components that combine to produce the flavours and character in cider, just as in wine.

Early harvest

Britain’s cider harvest gets underway a month earlier than usual in 2011 due to the warm spring weather, and growers are expecting a bumper crop.

Over 200,000 tonnes of apples will be picked within the next ten weeks.

Nearly half of all apples grown in the UK are used to make cider and many thousands of acres of new orchards have been planted in the last 15 years to keep pace with the increasing demand for the drink.

Gabe Cook, spokesman for the National Association of Cider Makers (NACM), said: ” An early harvest is an encouraging sign for the industry.

”The harvest has started earlier but then we saw an early blossom in spring.

”We are expecting a good harvest and we are especially pleased to see new orchards being harvested after the investment in planting”

Around 10 million hectolitres, or 1.76 billion pints, of cider are enjoyed by UK consumers every year according to the NACM.

Aug 31 2011

West Dean apple fair 2011

Over 100 varieties of apples will be on display at the West Dean College and Gardens Apple Affair in October.

Experts will also be available to help identify any apples that are brought along.

John Nash, former fruit farmer and President of the West Sussex Fruit Group said: ” It has been an ideal year for Cox apples because of the cooler temperatures.

“We’ve had a good hard, cold winter with few warm periods. The warm spells we have had in June enabled productive pollination, which is good for cell division of fruit, which makes for great apples.”

Apple growers can also seek advice from the ‘Apple Doctors’ who can help identify disease or problems in plants.

Apples of every shape and size will also be available for visitors to taste. Many of these have been grown in the Victorian walled kitchen garden on site.

Rosemary Moon, writer, chef and creator of an online cookery website, MoonBites, will also be demonstrating her favourite apple recipes.

West Dean House

As part of the Apple Affair West Dean House will open to the public.

The flint-faced mansion, which only opens once a year, was once home to Edward James and is now a College specialising in all aspects of arts, crafts, conservation and making.

Visitors will be able to see the three state rooms, the Old Dining Room, the Music Room, the vast Oak Reception Hall and the Old Library. All are furnished with art and antiques.

Further information

Admission to the Apple Affair is £8.00 for adults plus concessions.

The event takes place on the 1st and 2nd October 2011 between 10.30am and 5pm. Last entry for the house is 4.30pm.

Please note, no dogs are allowed in the event or grounds during the Apple Affair, except assistance dogs.

Access to restaurant and shop to event ticket holders only.

West Dean College is situated on the A286, six miles north of Chichester and six miles south of Midhurst.
Address: West Dean College, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 OQZ www.westdean.org.uk

Jun 13 2010

Apple Varieties for Shropshire

Karen from Shropshire contacted us requesting details of traditional apple varieties for the region.

Her school is taking part in the Learning Through Landscapes “Fruit-full Schools” project.

They are planning to establish a community orchard in the school grounds and would like to be able to grow old local varieties.

If anybody can help with information about varieties of apples that have traditionally been grown in shropshire, then please contact us via the comments section at the end of this post and we will forward the details.

More information

Learning from Landscapes believe passionately that children and young people who miss out on good school grounds miss out on the best start in life.

School grounds play a vital role in every child’s learning and development. They are unique spaces, providing safe and diverse opportunities for understanding, achievement, healthy exercise and play.

Learning From Landscapes will help you;

* Identify how to make physical changes to your grounds, and find people who can help
* Deliver the curriculum in a stimulating and meaningful way
* Increase learning and play opportunities
* Improve the environment for children and staff, making a better, happier place to be and developing a positive, caring ethos.
* Provide a range of formal and informal opportunities for physical activity, improving health, well-being and motivation to learn.
* Create opportunities for genuine participation for all to be involved in this process.

Oct 11 2009

Word Search: Apple varieties

Apples are being celebrated throughout the UK and elsewhere at this time of year at various Apple Day Events.

With this in mind we thought we would create a word search using many old varieties of apples .

See how many you can find hidden in the jumble of letters.

If you are holding an Apple Day event then let us know about it and we can help spread the word.

The files are in PDF form so Adobe Acrobat Reader is required.

The word search

[download#1#image]

The answers

(Available only if registered)

[download#2#image]