The future of Red Fleshed Apples Updated 12/2024
There can be several reasons motivating the big money being spent on red flesh apple development.You can bet, of course, that the real reason behind all of them is to make a lot more money.
Here are some of the out front reasons for further development:
1 a sweeter version of whats already available.
2 a larger apple, more like the size one finds in the grocery.
3 some programs are going for disease resistant qualities.
4 redder flesh and or more consistently redder in each apple.
5 apples available over a longer period.
6 greater health benefits as breeding progresses.
These are just a few things that come to mind right away based on whats going on with programs now.
Sets look at these one by one:
# 1 a sweeter apple? First of all thats very subjective. Granted if eastern WA tried growing any of Etter’s varieties they would be sold hard and tart and probably no color. However, properly grown and in the proper location several of these varieties are loved by the consumer as a sweet/tart red fleshed apple.PVM with their Lucy Glow and Lucy Rose is yet another classic example of how eastern WA and their breeding programs have missed the boat… again! Its not just the red flesh thats important to the customer. Its the zing of tart and sweet and the unique fruity flavors. There are already waaaaay too many sweet apples in the marketplace. Why would anyone in their right mind think that taking a great apple like Airlie Red and diluting it with sweetness would be popular?????The usual disconnect between eastern WA apple machine and the consumer.
# 2 a larger apple? To a point this would be nice, but I don’t think that the breeding of this attribute is worth it. The resulting losses would not justify a size increase. The main problem is that Both of the red flesh breeding parents are crab apples and have very strong genetic traits. This strength is more of a bonus than a negative. Its what accounts for the dominant red characteristics coming through as well as the flavors, cold hardiness, etc.
# 3 disease resistance? While this hasnt been a priority in any US breeding for red fleshed apples it has been in some European programs. Sustainable growing programs are much more in the spotlight in most of Europe than they are here. With limited land, closer proximity to populated areas and histories of environmental disasters with pesticides, a lot of Europe has become more sensitized to pesticide use so anytime a breeder can come up with a good apple line that is immune to apple scab, for instance, it usually goes over very big. The Redlove series is a good example of this. We have tried all of them and have settled on the Redlove Era, Odysso and Calypso.
# 4 redder flesh? This is very difficult to achieve with regular breeding. The two red fleshed apple parents that are available to use, for breeding, have many limitations. When bred with modern apples the usual result is something less red. As far as I’m concerned we don’t need to worry about this area.Of course the scientists will continue to make GMO red fleshed apples, touting that it is in the public's interest to have them because they are healthier for you. A very broad and subjective statement that is already being made by the apple breeders. Subjective of course as to whether or not you think consuming GMOs is healthier for you.
# 5 extending the marketing season? Typically, most of the red fleshed apples in circulation fall into two catagories: early harvest or late harvest. The “Etter” varieties are the ones most commonly found and most of those are early harvest. The one exception being Airlies which is late. As far as these early apples being harvested and then spread out over the season as commercial varieties they all suffer from being summer type apples which typically don’t keep.Some of the existing ‘other’ varieties can extend the season somewhat. Tickeled Pink is ready just after Pink Pearl and keeps a little better. Grenadine is ready a couple of weeks before Airlie and 5 weeks after Pink Pearl. So far Airlie is the one for keeping, however its not grower friendly. Very scab and Anthracnose susceptable and needs intensive thinning.
# 6 greater health benefits? As I mentioned earlier the apple breeders are already touting the “amazing” health benefits of their red fleshed apples.Apple breeders didn’t discover anything new or amazing with their apples. Apples have always been a very healthy choice. Red fleshed apples, which we, at JCF, have been selling for almost 30 years before the apple breeders discovered them, have slightly elevated levels of anthocyanins, which have antioxidant-like properties to protect your cells against the damage caused by free radicals.Ive noticed that the health food industry, COOPs, healthfood grocers, etc are really taking atvantage of the red flesh apple craze. I was at my local coop last month and bought one Airlie Red for $5.59/lb. What a rip! It was being sold as Hidden Rose which is another name for it. The apple was terrible, by the way, way past its life span, mealy.Here's my take on this fleecing of the public, If your only going to buy a couple of those small apples because thats all you can afford then forget it! Go eleswhere and buy 2-3 times the amount of apples at a fair price and while your there pick up a pint of blueberries. The berries will have far more antioxidants than the red fleshed apples would have and youll get a lot of healthy apples to boot!In closing, if you are ever unsure about a red fleshed apple you see for sale somewhere Please know that you are welcome to email me and I will get to the bottom of it. Take a pic if you can but at least get the name.CRISPR tech is going to be cranking out new varieties of apples in the near future and you can bet they wont be labeled as what they are, GMO.Buyer Beware!
The future of Red Fleshed Apples Updated 12/2024
There can be several reasons motivating the big money being spent on red flesh apple development.
You can bet, of course, that the real reason behind all of them is to make a lot more money.
Here are some of the out front reasons for further development:
1 a sweeter version of whats already available.
2 a larger apple, more like the size one finds in the grocery.
3 some programs are going for disease resistant qualities.
4 redder flesh and or more consistently redder in each apple.
5 apples available over a longer period.
6 greater health benefits as breeding progresses.
These are just a few things that come to mind right away based on whats going on with programs now.
Sets look at these one by one:
# 1 a sweeter apple? First of all thats very subjective. Granted if eastern WA tried growing any of Etter’s varieties they would be sold hard and tart and probably no color. However, properly grown and in the proper location several of these varieties are loved by the consumer as a sweet/tart red fleshed apple.
PVM with their Lucy Glow and Lucy Rose is yet another classic example of how eastern WA and their breeding programs have missed the boat… again! Its not just the red flesh thats important to the customer. Its the zing of tart and sweet and the unique fruity flavors. There are already waaaaay too many sweet apples in the marketplace. Why would anyone in their right mind think that taking a great apple like Airlie Red and diluting it with sweetness would be popular?????
The usual disconnect between eastern WA apple machine and the consumer.
# 2 a larger apple? To a point this would be nice, but I don’t think that the breeding of this attribute is worth it. The resulting losses would not justify a size increase. The main problem is that Both of the red flesh breeding parents are crab apples and have very strong genetic traits. This strength is more of a bonus than a negative. Its what accounts for the dominant red characteristics coming through as well as the flavors, cold hardiness, etc.
# 3 disease resistance? While this hasnt been a priority in any US breeding for red fleshed apples it has been in some European programs. Sustainable growing programs are much more in the spotlight in most of Europe than they are here. With limited land, closer proximity to populated areas and histories of environmental disasters with pesticides, a lot of Europe has become more sensitized to pesticide use so anytime a breeder can come up with a good apple line that is immune to apple scab, for instance, it usually goes over very big. The Redlove series is a good example of this. We have tried all of them and have settled on the Redlove Era, Odysso and Calypso.
# 4 redder flesh? This is very difficult to achieve with regular breeding. The two red fleshed apple parents that are available to use, for breeding, have many limitations. When bred with modern apples the usual result is something less red. As far as I’m concerned we don’t need to worry about this area.
Of course the scientists will continue to make GMO red fleshed apples, touting that it is in the public's interest to have them because they are healthier for you. A very broad and subjective statement that is already being made by the apple breeders. Subjective of course as to whether or not you think consuming GMOs is healthier for you.
# 5 extending the marketing season? Typically, most of the red fleshed apples in circulation fall into two catagories: early harvest or late harvest. The “Etter” varieties are the ones most commonly found and most of those are early harvest. The one exception being Airlies which is late. As far as these early apples being harvested and then spread out over the season as commercial varieties they all suffer from being summer type apples which typically don’t keep.
Some of the existing ‘other’ varieties can extend the season somewhat. Tickeled Pink is ready just after Pink Pearl and keeps a little better. Grenadine is ready a couple of weeks before Airlie and 5 weeks after Pink Pearl. So far Airlie is the one for keeping, however its not grower friendly. Very scab and Anthracnose susceptable and needs intensive thinning.
# 6 greater health benefits? As I mentioned earlier the apple breeders are already touting the “amazing” health benefits of their red fleshed apples.
Apple breeders didn’t discover anything new or amazing with their apples. Apples have always been a very healthy choice. Red fleshed apples, which we, at JCF, have been selling for almost 30 years before the apple breeders discovered them, have slightly elevated levels of anthocyanins, which have antioxidant-like properties to protect your cells against the damage caused by free radicals.
Ive noticed that the health food industry, COOPs, healthfood grocers, etc are really taking atvantage of the red flesh apple craze. I was at my local coop last month and bought one Airlie Red for $5.59/lb. What a rip! It was being sold as Hidden Rose which is another name for it. The apple was terrible, by the way, way past its life span, mealy.
Here's my take on this fleecing of the public, If your only going to buy a couple of those small apples because thats all you can afford then forget it! Go eleswhere and buy 2-3 times the amount of apples at a fair price and while your there pick up a pint of blueberries. The berries will have far more antioxidants than the red fleshed apples would have and youll get a lot of healthy apples to boot!
In closing, if you are ever unsure about a red fleshed apple you see for sale somewhere Please know that you are welcome to email me and I will get to the bottom of it. Take a pic if you can but at least get the name.
CRISPR tech is going to be cranking out new varieties of apples in the near future and you can bet they wont be labeled as what they are, GMO.
Buyer Beware!