Northern Ireland’s Armagh Bramley apples have won protected geographical indicator (PGI) status.
The designation was announced by the European Commission on 9 March and means the county’s Bramley is the second Northern Irish line to earn the status after Comber early potatoes last year.
Bramley growers and chairman of the Northern Ireland Fruit Growers Association John Beggs said: “We have waited a long time for this, but at last we have recognition that the Armagh Bramley has a special taste and composition. It represents an important boost to the industry in County Armagh.”
The county’s orchards produce 40,000 tonnes of the culinary variety a year and an increasing volume is destined for cider production. Some 140 growers produce the bulk of the crop which is also used to make pies and other desserts.
The NI Fruit Growers Association said that Armagh Bramley grows more slowly than fruit in English orchards and that this results in Bramley with a unique taste and texture.
“The EU award recognises the sharper, cleaner and slightly tarter taste of the Armagh Bramley compared with apples from orchards in England,” said Beggs.
The application has been supported by Invest NI’s food division and in the past has been criticised by English Apples & Pears for potentially fragmenting the industry. A spokesman for Invest NI said: “Armagh Bramley’s PGI status is not intended to be divisive. Hopefully this will raise the profile of Bramley and help growers in Great Britain as well."
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