BEA apple test

Visitors to the show also attempted to cut the longest apple peel. The winner, Zbinden Rinaldo, managed 5.44 metres

Apple variety Jazz has hit all the right notes in Switzerland this week, having been voted the most popular apple variety at BEA, Switzerland’s largest retail trade fair.

According to the Swiss Fruit Association, around 200 people were polled during the course of the show – which takes place every year in Bern – and asked about their preferences when it came to eating apples.

Interviewees were also invited to taste a range of new and established apple varieties, including Jazz, Diwa, Goldkiss, Braeburn, Gala, Pink Lady, Mariella and Rustica.

According to the results, generally speaking the trends in terms of varietal preference were similar among men and women, with Braeburn and Pink Lady respectively second and third favourites overall.

However, the association said, Gala and Rustica were less popular among female participants, who generally liked Jazz and Mariella more.

Also, consumers over 60 years of age tended to identify Gala and Rustica as their favourites more than those younger than 60.

Rustica and Diwa are newer apple varieties developed by the Swiss agricultural research centre Agroscope.