From JR Fruit Park Sendai Arahama: "Enjoy 34 varieties and strains of apples!
- Miyagi
- Experience Gifu
Suddenly, the above names are all apple names. Some of the names are apples you have heard of, and some you have never heard of. The pictures show the apples in order of name. They all differ in size, color, appearance, and above all, taste. In this issue, I will tell you all about the charms of these apples!
A familiar fruit? Introducing the depth of the apple!
When most people think of apples, they imagine a "sweet and sour" taste. When apple growers and researchers describe the taste of apples, they use the term "Kansantekiwa" (sweet and sour). This is a term that is not commonly used in the industry, but many people think that an apple that tastes "delicious! is a perfect description of the taste of apples, as they have a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.
Choosing by taste! Apples are now in the age of diversity!
There is also "Sour Rouge" as a new sour apple, "Shinano Gold," "Haruka," and "Kinshu" as sweet and sour varieties, and "Oshu Roman," "Gunma Meigetsu," and "Mori no Kagayaki" as sweet varieties. It can be said that the time has come for people to be able to choose the variety of apple according to their own preferences!
What is the sugar content of a good apple?
Recently, the number of apples with guaranteed sugar content has been increasing, so when purchasing apples, please refer to the number indicated on the label and enjoy delicious apples.
Typical Fulpa apples
Here are just a few examples!
Sour Rouge
Miyagi Prefecture's original apple, born from the natural crossbreeding of "Fuji". Harvest season in Miyagi Prefecture is from September 20 to October 10. 200 to 250 grams in weight, medium-sized, with a bright red exterior and no noticeable fruit spots, it is a very beautiful apple.
The most distinctive feature of this apple is its sourness, which is comparable to that of the "Benidama" apple, as its name "Sour" implies. It has about 0.7% sourness, about twice that of Fuji. This sourness makes it a perfect accompaniment to apple pie and meat dishes. Of course, it is also recommended for those who want to taste the gusto of acidity in its raw form!
Kinshu
A new variety just registered in 2019. This variety was created at the National Agricultural Research Institute of Japan from the cross between "Chiaki" x "4-4349" ("Tsugaru" x "Iwakami").
The fruit is a very well-colored apple weighing around 300-350 grams. The apples have a good balance of sweetness and acidity, and have a good texture when bitten through, and are characterized by their rich eating quality. In Miyagi Prefecture, it is harvested from late September to early October.
The apples are so delicious that as you eat them, you will find yourself saying to yourself, "This is so good! If you are looking for a strong flavor, not just sweetness, this is the apple for you!
Slim Red
This variety was registered in 1995 by crossing "Fuji" and "Agaki" at the Gunma Agricultural Technology Center.
Slim Red" is slim, as the name suggests, and is harvested in early to mid-November. It is a small apple, weighing 150 to 250 grams.
Because of its thin skin, it is best to eat it whole. The apples are juicy and crisp, and you can eat them right down to the core. It is a true pocket apple.
It is a rare and valuable apple that is rarely available in Sendai.
Oshu Roman
This variety was bred by Mr. Takano of Esashi City, Iwate Prefecture, by crossing "Shinano Gold" with "Tsugaru".
It has a strong sweetness, with a sugar content of over 16 degrees. The crispy chewiness is very pleasant. It is a beautiful bright red variety with good storability.
It is recommended for those who do not like acidity and want a crunchy texture.
Akane Aki
This variety is a variation of Seimei ("Golden Delicious" × "Fuji") in terms of coloring. The entire surface is colored a deep red.
The fruit weighs 300-350 grams and has a slightly elongated shape, giving the impression of being tall and stout. The flesh is dense and juicy, with a good balance of sweetness and acidity. It is a refreshing apple with a beautiful appearance and little rust on the surface of the fruit.
It is a rare variety that is rarely grown in Miyagi Prefecture and rarely shipped to the market.
Gunma Meigetsu
A yellow variety bred in Gunma Prefecture by crossing "Fuji" with "Akagi. The sun-dappled surface turns red. In Miyagi Prefecture, it is a late variety that ripens in early November.
The fruit is large in size, with many harvested weighing over 400 grams. It is a sweet variety with little acidity. Although the flesh is a little soft, it is an apple that has been gaining popularity in recent years for its refreshing taste that appeals to everyone.
Haruka
This yellow variety was selected by Professor Emeritus Yokota of Iwate University from a natural hybrid seedling of "Golden Delicious.
It is harvested later than "Fuji," and the unbarked fruit has a reddish color on its sunny side. It does not look very good as it is, so it is usually beautifully finished by covering with bags.
In Miyagi Prefecture, it is a late variety that ripens in late November. The fruit weighs more than 300 grams and has a low acidity and a sugar content of more than 17 degrees C. The flesh is firm and nectar-filled. The flesh is firm and honeyed, making it a very tasty apple. It is an apple that has been gaining popularity in recent years because of its high sugar content and unprecedented apple flavor.
Fulpa produces both the rich-tasting, bagless "Haruka" and the crisp-tasting, excellent-looking, bagged "Haruka.
Kimito
This variety was bred at the Fujisaki Farm affiliated with the Hirosaki University Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences by crossing "Fuji" with "Toko".
The fruit weighs around 350 grams and has a vertical shape similar to that of the "Ohbayashi" variety. The skin is yellow, but it turns yellow later than other Fulpa yellow apples. The flesh is white. The sugar content reaches 15% or more, and Fulpa apples have moderate acidity, giving them a rich flavor.
Fulpa is harvested in December. It is a perfect way to end the apple season.
How to cultivate apples at JR Fruit Park Sendai Arahama
To solve this problem, Fulpa grows apples in "joint cultivation," where the height of the trees is lowered to let in more light. Trees that receive more light produce more delicious apples, and since the apples are evenly distributed from low to high, even small children can easily pick apples from the trees.
What is the secret of apples with honey?
Sorbitol" carried to the fruit is converted into fructose, sucrose, etc. by the action of enzymes, but as the temperature drops in deep autumn, the enzymes slow down and the un-converted excess "sorbitol" overflows outside the cells. This is what honey is. The surplus sugar-producing substance is transported to the fruit, and a fruit that is overflowing with honey is a fruit with sufficient sweetness. Moreover, a full-bodied aroma spreads at the same time, making the fruit "delicious.
Fulpa helps you identify the best apples!
There are many differences among the strains, but the taste of the same Fuji varies considerably depending on whether it is bagged or not (San Fuji), the amount of fruit set, the soil, and of course, the climate and local characteristics of the year.
The best way to enjoy delicious fruit is to get to know the fruit farmer and obtain perfectly ripe fruit. We would be happy if Fulpa becomes such an orchard for everyone.
-
Location
2-17-1 Arahama-shin, Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 984-0034
Access
Get off at Arai Station on the Sendai Municipal Subway Tozai Line
Sendai City Bus Arai Station, Bus Stop No. 2
Get off at No.2 bus stop of Arai Station and walk to "Earthquake Remnants Sendai Municipal Arahama Elementary School".
Get off at "Sendai Municipal Arahama Elementary School, a Remnant of the Earthquake" and walk 5 minutes from the bus stop.*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.