Open Orchard, Robyn and Taz

Taz 'n' Rob

A project that has returned the unique taste of heritage apples to Southland has gained national and international interest, the project co-ordinator says.

Dozens of people visited the Riverton Environment Centre at the weekend to buy about 400 small fruit trees, which were grafted from orchards throughout Southland in recent years.

The Open Orchard Project co-ordinator, Robyn Guyton, said the small trees sold at the weekend, including 48 varieties

of apple trees, were grafted from trees originally brought to New Zealand last century.

Fearing the old varieties would soon be lost forever, Mrs Guyton said a project team was launched two years ago to take cuttings off old trees and grow small fruit trees from them. "We are saving old varieties of fruit trees, which were all over Southland."

The project has taken off, with people from throughout New Zealand, and from as far afield as Ireland and Scotland, asking about the type of apples they had, she said.

"All the old people are loving us because it reminds them of what the old apples tasted like. We are returning their childhood tastes," Mrs Guyton said.

Apples of yesteryear had more variety than the modern-day apples being sold on the supermarket shelves, she believed. "Some taste spicy, some taste like pineapple, some are citrusy, some are good for baking and others are good for cider. Some are ready in February and some are ready in October.

"The range is huge," she said.

The trees were sold at cheap rates with the money used to keep the old varieties alive.

It was the biggest project of its kind in New Zealand, Mrs Guyton said.

Southland Times article Monday
By Evan Harding
Photo Robyn Edie