Below: Sainsburys apple display with British apples and pears available
It seems only a while ago that the British Apple and Pear season started and here we are approaching the end of March.
The English Apple Man visited a few Supermarkets in my vicinity to appraise the presence of home grown apples and pears.
In days gone by (30-40 years ago) the UK season was drawing to a close by the end of March as Cox our main variety exhausted its storage life. Cox from New Zealand arrived followed by Gala Braeburn and other varieties from the antipodeans.
Growing husbandry and modern storage have enabled 'home grown' varieties like; Gala, Braeburn, Cameo, Smitten, Kanzi & Jazz to extend our sales into May, June and July.
The English Apple Man bought Kanzi, Smitten, Cameo, Jazz & Royal Gala for tasting and all were of good quality, and all with firm texture indicating plenty of shelf life for the consumer.
Below: left. Sainsburys Cameo and right. Sainsburys Ripe & Ready Conference Pears
Below: left and right. Braeburn in ALDI grown and packed by Kent grower AC Goatham
Below: left. Cameo in ALDI and right. Jazz in M&S
Below: Left. Royal Gala in Tesco and right. Kanzi in Tesco in new card packaging.
Below: left. British Bramley Cooking Apples in Sainsburys and right. Smitten in Tesco grown by Paul Mansfield in Kent
The EAM purchased Kanzi, Smitten, Cameo, Jazz & Royal Gala
Below: KANZI Eating quality: Very firm texture, white flesh colour, Juicy with good flavour.
Below: SMITTEN Eating quality: Very firm texture, juicy with cream flesh colour and good flavour.
Below: CAMEO Eating quality: Firm texture, greenish/white flesh colour, good flavour
Below: JAZZ Eating quality: Crisp dense texture, very juicy, creamy flesh colour, very good flavour.
Below: ROYAL GALA Eating quality very crisp and juicy texture, white flesh colour, enjoyable eating experience.
That is all for this week
Take care
The English Apple Man