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News
release…….
September
2005
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TESCO
GROWS THE FUTURE OF BRITISH APPLES BY PRESERVING THE PAST
Tesco
has revealed ambitious plans to double the amount of English apples
it sells, within three years.
In
another boost to the apple industry the supermarket has also announced
it is to help preserve England’s unique apple heritage by becoming
the principal sponsor of Brogdale Horticultural Trust who are dedicated
to the conservation education and research of fruit and in particular
the Defra National Fruit Collection. The Collections are housed
near Faversham, in Kent.
Brogdale,
described as a National Treasure, houses the largest collection
of Fruit in the world with over 4000 varieties of apple, pears plums
cherries vines, cobnuts and bush fruit grown, in 30 acres of orchards
As
part of its drive to sell more English apples Tesco will work with
Brogdale Trust to look at the feasibility of re-introducing some
of the older English varieties to shoppers - to ensure the enjoyment
of these apples is passed on to future generations.
Tesco
apple buyer Martin de la Fuente said, "This is great news for
anyone who has ever enjoyed biting into a crunchy English Apple.
"England
has a unique apple history which we believe should be preserved,
and if we can do this by reinvigorating peoples interest in our
English Apples, so much the better.
"Sponsoring
the work of the Trust whilst focusing on growing the English Apple
market will ensure not only that we are able to offer more English
apples than ever before, but also a greater variety.
"We do already source our apples from the UK wherever possible,
and have started selling more unusual, traditional varieties in
our finest range which are flying off the shelves.
"Customers won’t be the only ones to benefit. If we can
grow more apples in the UK this will reduce the need for imports
and will mean additional income for English growers worth hundreds
of thousands of pounds."
Jane Garrett, who runs Brogdale, said, that she welcomes the timely
support of Tesco to help encourage more interest in our heritage
varieties. She is keen to progress the licensing of people growing
Heritage varieties to grow under the Brogdale Heritage name. Growing
such varieties means meeting high standards. Growing traditional
varieties requires added costs which means the customer having to
pay a little more for the luxury of having access to a wider range
of unique British seasonal fruit.
The apple industry in the UK is estimated to be worth over £320
million.
Apples originated in Asia Minor over 4,000 years ago and found their
way through Europe with the Romans who cultivated them for their
own use and spread the knowledge and use of apples into the local
population. Since the Romans invaded in 55BC the British have bred
a range of different varieties. Some of these varieties are more
suitable than others for the modern market.
Apples are discounted commercially for a variety of reasons: the
Roman apple Decio for
example, is never going to be productive enough, whilst Knobby
Russett is always going to be a little too ugly, Faversham
Creek (found in the local Salt Marshes) is too salty and Bloody
Ploughman is a considered by some to have a name which is a
little vulgar! These are the losers.
Potential winners in the collections, which engender typical old
English varieties, as well as having a rich range of diverse apple
tastes, are Blenheim Orange
(the traditional Christmas Stocking apple), Worcester
Pearmain, St Edmunds
Pippin, and Egremont Russett
and not to be forgetting the Scottish James
Grieve.
For
more information please contact Jo Keohane in the Tesco Press Office
on 01992 644 328
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