In a bid to bring some of England’s most historical apples back to life, Waitrose has embarked on a significant planting programme at its Leckford Farm. This will involve the cultivation of ancient varieties of apples, some of which have never been grown commercially in the UK before, increasing the amount of UK apples sold by Waitrose.
A total of 3,000 trees, of six different historic varieties, have now been planted and it is expected that consumers will see the first fruit in store within three years.
The varieties were chosen with the help of the Royal Horticultural Society fruit team, selecting apples that would grow well, produce good crops and deliver a reliable, delicious harvest. The varieties chosen - Ashmeads Kernel, Adams Pearmain, Pixie, Sunset, Chivers Delight and Kidd’s Orange Red, fruit throughout the season and will guarantee a continual supply in selected stores, with 80 tonnes being produced at peak harvest.
Tom Palmer, Fruit Specialist at Leckford, said, "We have taken expert advice to ensure that the varieties chosen are both sustainable and have wide appeal. It has been a long process and we are looking forward to seeing the fruits of our labour when we have the first, small harvest."
Grown especially for Waitrose, the trees began life through grafting root stocks into budding wood - a laborious process that has involved horticultural specialists, including RHS Wisley. Leckford has committed 10 hectares of land for the scheme and is looking forward to seeing the amount of apples produced grow each year as the trees mature.
Comments Jocelyn Clarke, Senior Fruit Buyer at Waitrose: "During the UK apple season we aim to source 70 % of apples from the UK, putting Waitrose firmly on the map when it comes to stocking British fruit.
The Leckford Collection will increase the volume and variety of traditional English apples available in Waitrose and we expect that our customers will enjoy a wide choice throughout the season".
Waitrose Heritage Apple Overview:
Pear-fectly Historical
Mouth-watering and steeped in history, the Ashmeads Kernel apple was introduced at the same time as sir Robert Walpole became England’s first Prime Minister. With its unique peardrop flavour and russet appearance, this apple is the perfect size for a healthy and tasty snack. Its popularity has lasted the test of time and consumers will welcome such a uniquely flavoured apple into stores.
Adam’s Apple
The Adams Pearmain will find its way to Waitrose shelves quite late into the English apple season, and although on shelf from October, it will keep until around March. A popular variety at farmers markets over the past few years; it was first introduced during the reign of Queen Victoria and has seen a recent surge of popularity. It has a rich aromatic flavour and has unusual red stripes and a soft yellow flesh, and followers have enjoyed its juicy and sweet taste.
Autumn Magic
A small apple that packs a big punch, Pixie is a refreshing choice on long Autumn days with many characteristics of a Cox apple. Its delicious flavour has been enjoyed by gardeners and foodies alike, but has not been grown on a commercial scale until Waitrose decided to plant the trees at Leckford. It has a refreshing sharpness but is not acidic, and crops throughout its growing season, ensuring that there will be season-round availability in store.
Sunny Lunch Box Filler
Perfect for children thanks to its small size, Sunset is a healthy addition to lunchboxes or as a delicious snack. It should be available to buy quite early on in the season and will introduce children to some lovely grown-up, aromatic but sharp flavours.
Delicious Revival
First introduced at the time of George VI, the Chivers Delight apple is crisp, sweet and well-balanced. Waitrose is leading its revival, introducing consumers to what has been described as an excellent variety that has often been hard to find and enjoy.
Classically Outstanding
Introduced by a new world apple breeder in the 1920’s, the Kidd’s Orange Red is considered to be one of the most outstanding English style of apples available. Available towards the end of the season so perfect for New Year healthy eating, this apple has an attractive yellow, orange-red flush and marble appearance. With a sweet, honey flavour and juicy crunch, this variety promises to jump off the shelves when it’s introduced. Kidd Orange Red traditionally produces a small amount of crop each year, so consumers are urged to buy the variety as soon as it appears in stores.
Apple Hints and Tips
Many late varieties of apple keep well and flavour can improve over time. To store, put the apples into a perforated plastic bag and store in the fridge or a cold outbuilding.
Make sure you eat an apple a day - about 10% is made up of carbohydrates and they contain dietary fibre in their skins and core.
Don’t forget the peel- discarding the apple skin and core almost halves the amounts of Vitamin C and dietary fibre available in the whole fruit.
