Did you know the first ever Apple Day was organised by the British charity Common Ground as recently as 1990? It took place in Covent Garden.
And contemplating the hard, shiny, sweet-sharp fruit we take so easily for granted feels quite meditative: it’s tangible, perfumed and crunchy – everything, in fact, that smacks of being alive.
So it’s not surprising that Apple Day, which takes place across the country this weekend, is about demonstrating that “variety and richness matter to a locality”. We couldn’t agree more.
In fact, it’s nothing short of a secular festival of “physical, cultural and genetic diversity”. The list of varieties “runs into thousands”, says Simone Uncle, organiser of this year’s Apple Day at Kentish Town City Farm. “And it includes fascinating names like foxwhlep, hogshead, monstrous pippin, Tom Putt, duck’s bill and sheep’s snout.”
This year sees a focus on more down-to-earth varieties dating back from the 1800s to the present day. “There’ll be a range of flavours from nutty and spicy to earthy and honeysweet. It’s been an excellent year and, despite the shortage of bees, the mild spring has helped tree fruits in general.”
From bobbing to cake, fritters to peel, every aspect of the multi-tasking fruit will be enjoyed. Throw in a spot of archery, arts and crafts and an “apple cafe” and the only zingy thing you’ll probably not be overdosing on is cider. Oh well, it is a family event an’ all.
Simone adds that they’ll be using apples from their own trees to taste and make juice. “Here on the farm our tree produces the Cox,” she says. “But we’ll also be visiting local orchards and bringing in 20 to 30 different varieties for people to make choose which ones are their favourites.”
Start her on the subject and she’ll tell you how apples originated in the Middle East more than 4000 years ago. And did you know Brogdale in Faversham, Kent is home to the National Fruit Collection – the largest collection of fruit trees and plants in the world?
“Apple Day is all about saving what is left of our apple orchards and trees,” she says. “Their loss is very symbolic as it means losing variety, a way of life, words and songs associated with where the apples grew – and even the look and feel of a place.”