English top-fruit marketing desk Norman Collett is celebrating a remarkable performance for its exclusive varieties Cameo and Rubens in the Tastiest Apple class at the National Fruit Show.
Cameo, grown by Newmafruit, won first prize, the third time in five years it has landed top spot. And second place was shared by a sample of Rubens grown by JA Colthup, and another Cameo entry, this time grown by Nigel Bardsley.
The two varieties are marketed exclusively by Collett’s in the UK, and beat other relatively new and much-fancied varieties including Kanzi and Jazz.
“Everything has gone very well for Cameo this year,” said Sarah Calcutt, the company’s business development manager. “It appears to have really enjoyed the summer weather. Fruit from all of our growers’ orchards has had good skin finish and flavour development has been brilliant. Volume will be up to around 1,200 tonnes this year, from around the 1,000t mark last season.”
While Calcutt was pleased with Cameo’s win, if anything, the news that Rubens had taken second place in its first year with its own class at the show provided more satisfaction. The hordes of children at the Detling Showground also gave it the thumbs up, she said: “Both varieties have got a great reaction from the children today. They may be easily led, and perhaps liked Cameo because they were told it had won a competition, but they all really enjoyed Rubens too.
“It suits their palate - my generation eats Gala and Braeburn, but the palate is getting a lot sweeter and both Cameo and Rubens fit the bill,” said Calcutt.
Pictured, Collett’s managing director Andy Sadler talks to one of the groups of schoolchildren that toured the show on the second day.
