It has been described as juicy, crispy and sweet – honey sweet. It’s yellow, and about the size of a tennis ball. Its skin is thin and glossy, it’s good in salads, and it won’t get mushy when you cook it.
What’s it called? Well, it’s an apple, but not just any apple. It’s a new variety that Agriculture Canada wants you to name.
The department wants all citizens to share in the fruits of agricultural research.
A tip: Sheryl Hampson, apple breeder at the department’s research facility in Summerland, B.C., says obscure names may actually stand a better chance of winning.
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“When you think about apples such as Gala, Fuji, Braeburn or MacIntosh, their names don’t tell you anything about what the apple is supposed to look like or taste like,” she said.
“So those kinds of names have a lesser chance of having been used already, and they’re sometimes more exciting.”
If submitting a descriptive name, Hampson urges people to be creative. Several entries – Honey Gold, Honey Crisp, Summerland, Goldrush – are ineligible because those names have already been used for other apples.
As for the new and so far nameless variety, Hampson is excited about it.
“It’s a cross between the Splendour and the Gala apples, and I believe it has an eating quality that’s superior to either of its parents.
“It’s extremely productive and it remains beautifully crisp and juicy for longer than just about any other apple I can think of.”
There are only 10 producers now growing the new apple. The fruit should be available in supermarkets across the country within five to 10 years.
The contest closes Sept. 21. To find the website with contest details, visit www.producer.com and click on links in the news.
