Company attempts to boost consumption of locally grown fruit with introduction of limited edition variety
Dole has introduced homegrown Honeycrunch apples for the Irish market under its locally grown produce brand Grá.
The company has an exclusive licence to sell the variety in Ireland. And although volumes are small at the moment, it says the addition of new growers means production is set to increase in 2025.
According to Dole, only one in twenty apples sold in the country are of Irish origin.
“There are reasons for this,” it says. “Growing apples in Ireland isn’t easy and imported varieties have proven popular with Irish consumers.”
Grower David Keane says he has tried to diversify the varietal mix at his Croninaght Orchard in County Waterford, and move away from commodities like Golden Delicious that can be produced cheaper and in far greater volume by countries like France.
He says Honeycrunch typifies that shift towards more valuable, more appreciated produce.
“Honeycrunch is an extraordinary apple because of its really wonderful mouth-feel when you eat it,” he explains. “It has this crunchiness, which it manages to hang on to over many other varieties, combined with really good flavour and a nice balance of sweetness and acidity.”
Keane’s partnership with Grá represents an important opportunity to work with a company that is rooted in the local market but with the backing of a major international company.
“We think we have the conditions to produce fruit that is as well coloured and flavoursome as anywhere else,” he adds.
