'All Canadian' Creston apple to hit the shelves
The apple's retail introduction screams of exclusivity — only 2,000 bushels will be sold, only in Ontario and only at Loblaws. In comparison, the Ontario government pegs the average provincial apple crop at about 13.7 million bushels.
"Once you taste it, there's no question that you want more of them," said Tom Chudleigh, whose company, Chudleigh's, grew the apples.
Although the apple has been sold for a number of years in farmers' markets, primarily in B.C. and Nova Scotia, Chudleigh said distribution was limited and Ontario consumers were excluded.
Chudleigh was given 10 Creston trees to plant in his orchard when the apple was first developed, and eventually realized he might have something great on his hands.
"Whenever we wanted an apple, the workers wanted an apple, they'd buzz back and get one of these Crestons," he said. But it takes five or six years to grow enough apples for retail and Chudleigh said the company wasn't ready until this year.
"It's one of those apples that has great potential, and I've often spoken of it for a number of years now ... as being an apple that's a little bit different in appearance and has great flavour," he said. One of the selling points, Chudleigh said, is that the Creston is an "all-Canadian apple."
Source: thespec.com
