ANNUAL TASTING OF ALASKA- GROWN APPLES

 

D. Bradley

 

1999 Results

 

The annual Alaskan-grown apple tasting was held at Bradley’s in Peters Creek on Sept. 25, 1999. About 30 people were there, and 19 rated the apples. We tasted 31 varieties of apples, a dozen repeats of these same varieties, two varieties of pear, and one each apricot and plum. The highest-rated apples this year were Red Duchess (grown by Torn Marshall), Norland (grown by Patrick Carney), Parkland (grown by Bob Boyer), Oriole (grown by Tom Marshall), and Viking (grown by Bob Boyer). Pat Carney brought two Norlands which we tasted blind. His “Patrick #2”, grown in a pot, was the more highly rated of the two, and second overall.

 

No. Variety Grower Score Sugar content
9 Red Duchess Marshall 7.32 11.5
29 Norland (“#2”) Carney 7.28 11
18 Parkland Boyer 7.11 15
17 Oreole Marshall 6.82 13
11 Viking Boyer 6.74 12.5
2 Mantet Boyer 6.62 12
13 Pristine Boyer 6.47 11.5
16 September Ruby Carney 6.45 12.5
23 Norland (“#3”) Carney 6.21 12
45 Rescue Elliott 6.18 13
19 Parkland Bradley 6.13 14
40 Trailman Bradley 6.06 15
35 Lodi Vochoska 5.94 12
3 Red Mantet   5.92 12
1 Norland Franke 5.89 12.5
12 Summer Red Irvin 5.84 12
34 Norland Bradley 5.75 12.5
6 Centennial Boyer 5.71 17
10 Early Mac Monson 5.68 12.5
37 Hickel Franke 5.68 10
14 Golden Transparent Butcher 5.66 13.5
31 NY 394 Boyer 5.65 12
32 15th St. Mystery Original 5.64 12.5
20 Parkland Franke 5.63 13
5 Mantet Yassick 5.55 12
27 Collett Boyer 5.53 13
21 8th & M Original 5.29 12.5
41 Joyce Boyer 5.28 14
38 Rosthern 15 Franke 5.26 12
42 Westland Franke? 5.03 12
22 8th & M Yassick 5.00 12
4 Roda Mantet Franke 4.95 12
30 Wynoochee Early Boyer 4.82 13
15 Yellow Transparent Marshall 4.82 12
33 Westland Vochoska 4.69 10.5
7 Summer Mac Boyer 4.68 11
39 Yellow Transparent Franke 4.62 12
25 Harris Mystery Harris 4.33 12
26 Heyer 12 Yassick 4.00 11
36 Westland Boyer 3.78 10.5
8 State Fair Olsen 3.63 11
43 Dolgo   3.53 17
28 Liberty Boyer 3.44 11
24 Red Transparent Franke? 3.11 10.5

 

 

Sugar content

 

Bob and Marianne Boyer tested each variety for sugar content; we were surprised as usual at some of the results. Out of curiosity, I plotted the tasting score (horizontal axis) versus sugar content. In the graph below, there is at best a weak correlation between sugar content and score. Eight out of 9 apples with sugar as low as 10.5 or 11 scored among the lowest for taste. However, the two ringers with sugar content of 17%—Dolgo and Centennial— don’t fit the pattern too well.

 

 

Six-Year Results

 

The next table ranks the Alaskan-grown varieties that have been tasted over the past six years, since I’ve been keeping track. The order is highly subjective, based on years in the top ten, and number of years ranked in the top three. Ginger Gold, Oriole, Parkland, and Norland are the clear front-runners. Mantet, Viking, and Red Duchess have each placed first, but other years they have barely been edible — they don’t ripen every year and when they don’t they are worthless.

A caveat on Norland and Parkland. These apples have, indeed, finished in the top 10 most years and #2 or #3 fairly regularly. However, we usually sample three or four Norlands and Parklands, and it is only the highest scoring ones that finish in the top 10. Although the highest-rated Norland ranked second, the average score of four Norlands would have ranked eighth. Likewise for the three Parklands: one was rated highly, the rest back in the pack.

 

 

 

Variety Years in top ten Years # 1 Years #2 Years #3
Ginger Gold 4 2    
Oriole 5 1 1 2
Parkland 6   1 2
Norland 5   2 1
Mantet 3 1    
Viking 2 1    
Red Duchess 1 1    
15th St. Mystery 3      
Roda Mantet 2   1  
Lodi 2      
Harris Mystery 2      
Sunrise 2      
September Ruby 2   1  
Geneva Early 1   1  
State Fair 1     1
Vista Bella 1      
Karl Franke Mystery 1      
Golden

Transparent

1      
Canada Red 1      
Arvid Miller Mystery 1      
Whitney 1      
8th & M 1      
Mystery        
Rescue 2      
Novo-sibirsk Sweet 1      
Joyce 1      
Red Mantet 1      
Pristine 1      
Patrick #3 1