Tesco has announced plans to begin stocking many ‘antique’ varieties in a bid to preserve the diversity of British apples.
In a sponsorship deal with UK fruit conservation group the Brogdale Horticultural Trust, Tesco said many unique varieties that could have died out will now have a secure future.
Plans for stocking ‘heirloom’ cultivars on the supermarket’s shelves are currently underway and could include varieties Blenheim Orange, originating from Oxfordshire in 1740, Saint Edmund Pippin, dating back to 1875 and James Grieve, a Scottish apple, first recorded in Edinburgh in 1893.
Preserving over 2,000 types of apple in its 30 orchards, Brogdale’s celebration of diversity even extends to varieties that would not be suitable for modern palettes such as Knobby Russet - a sour apple that can have grey or black skin.
Martin de la Fuente, Tesco apple buyer, said: “Britain has a unique apple history to be proud of - it’s right that we are working to preserve the weird and wonderful varieties of this nation.
“We want to put the spotlight on fruit that has been grown here for hundreds of years, which is good news for anyone who has ever enjoyed biting in to a crunchy British apple.”
Jane Garrett, who runs Brogdale, said: “We welcome Tesco’s help all the more because many of the more unusual varieties - such as the Knobby Russett are never going to be eating favorites. They are however, key, to keeping the fruit history of Britain alive.”
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