Armagh Bramley apples are in the running to become a product listed under Europe’s Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) scheme.

The Fruit Industry Federation has submitted an application to Northern Ireland’s department of agriculture and rural development, to register the fruit, grown in County Armagh, as a PGI.

Before a decision on whether to forward the applications to the European Commission for the next stage of the process can be made, the department is consulting interested parties in the UK to allow them to comment on the application.

The fruit’s geographical designation is the Archdiocese of Armagh in Northern Ireland, which covers the counties of Armagh and Tyrone and part of county Londonderry.

The Bramley apple was first brought to Armagh in 1884, although apples have been grown in the county for 3,000 years.

By 1921, 7,000 acres of Bramleys had been planted in Armagh, making it the principal apple variety in the county.

Processing of the apple started in 1903, and Northern Ireland’s leading processors are still based in County Armagh. Up to 1,500 local people are employed in the industry, and traditional events such as Apple Week and an apple festival in October still take place.

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