Frost damage: REWE Group supports Lake Constance fruit growers

The supermarket chain, REWE Group, has been fighting food waste for years. Selling fruit and vegetables of outstanding quality, but with some exterior flaws, for instance of the peel, shows this dedication. The Jonagold apples that are sold this autumn in the 3,300 REWE stores and the 2,150 PENNY stores in Germany, fall in this category. 

The severe frost at the end of April caused rings of russetting on several varieties, such as Jonagold, Jonagored and Red Jonaprince. Furthermore, due to the cold weather during the growth period, the apples are somewhat smaller than usual. REWE sells a bag of 2 kilos for 1.49 Euros and PENNY sells a box of 5 kilos for 2.99 Euros.

 

“At the end of April our producers with orchards in the region of Lake Constance, had to cope with heavy frosts. A considerable part of the Jonagold harvest is affected. The apples taste great, but have visible frost damage and cannot be sold as class I. This leads to financial losses. I am happy with the solidarity that the action of the REWE Group shows; they sell the apples as class II in 5,500 stores. This gives us the chance to cover the cost of the harvest and care of the apples,” states Hans Knöpfler, managing director of the fruit distribution company, Lake Constance.

This year, at the end of April, the temperatures dropped below -5 degrees Celsius. During this period the blossoming of the Jonagold varieties had already started, and the effects of the frost are now seen on the apples in the form of rings of russetting. Minor damage to the blossoms increased on the growing apple. The texture of the ring looks and feels similar to the peel of the popular apple variety Boskoop. The bottom part of the Jonagold apples has this slightly rougher texture, but the apple itself is not affected in any way, the taste is juicy, crispy and excellent. Only the peel is not completely perfect.