Jan Oskam has Boskoop available this year as well. The harvest is about 35 per cent lower than usual, which resulted in an upward development of prices early in the season. Kees Oskam says the consequences of frost were noticeable early in the year.
“Boskoop is a so-called triploid variety, so it’s more sensitive to cold. Besides, not every grower has the option of irrigation. Yet the final yield is a bit higher than expected in advance," The mercantile house from Vleuten, the Netherlands, is specialised in this variety.
“In the mid-1960s we already did much business with Belgium. France and Germany joined later. We don’t have any specific club variety in our programme, but we did want to connect a variety to our name to be distinctive. This became Boskoop, in part because the variety falls between two stools for most companies.”
Belle de Boskoop is an old apple variety that is still mostly used to make apple pies, apple turnovers and applesauce. The lumpy and firm apple has a rough, red-coloured skin, and tart flavour. Boskoop can be harvested from mid-September, after which it will be available from Oskan's storage until approximately late June. Jan Oskam’s apples nowadays mostly consist of the variety Red Boskoop, a mutant of Belle de Boskoop.
“Our apples mostly go to German and French supermarkets. They’re also in supermarkets in the Netherlands, but we do practically nothing on the domestic market. Our target audience has changed. In the past, Boskoop was the apple to cook and bake with. It’s therefore mostly the older generation, and the younger generation that was taught this by their parents or grandparents, that we rely on. Making your own applesauce, who does that nowadays?”
The firm and tart apple lends itself to being cooked, but according to Kees, it’s much more versatile. “Boskoop can also be consumed out of hand. The apple’s tart flavour is particular. Nowadays, people prefer the slightly sweeter varieties, such as Elstar or Gala. It’s therefore not surprising that the Boskoop production areas are decreasing. Yet its share, which is about 15 per cent for us, has been stable for years. There will always be a market for Boskoop. We remain loyal to the apple.”
Shorter season
Boskoop is also grown in Belgium and Germany. Markets that still have much potential for the apple are France and Spain.
“A comparable variety in these countries is Reine des Reinettes. The apple variety is much used in desserts, to prepare ‘Pomme au Four’ and ‘Tarte tatin,’ for example.Many old orchards are ready to be replaced in those countries. Although consumption of the Reinettes is also decreasing, Boskoop could be an alternative. A serious competitor is the Wellant. This apple has roughly the same characteristics as Boskoop, but is more appreciated out of hand due to its flavour. However, Wellant is more difficult to grow.”
As of late September, Kees says he’s happy with the current market situation. The apples are well-absorbed, and growers are willing to clear a bit, which could possibly lead to a shorter season. He doesn’t rule out that the season might be over mid-May 2018.
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Kees Oskam
Jan Oskam