Specialist apples and other fruit for sale
Summer / Autumn 2011 season
We are offering tasting samples of a wide range of unusual and interesting fruit varieties in season, supplied from the UK National Fruit Collections at Brogdale Farm, near Faversham, or from the heritage orchards also at Brogdale Farm. The fruit is supplied in boxes with a mixed selection of varieties based around a theme, and each variety is labelled. Click here for more details.
Mixed-variety fruit sample boxes
Selections of fresh apples and pears with a particular theme, available by mail-order.
Chef's Apple Selection (sold out)
SOLD OUT
A box of fresh apples containing a selection of 3 or more culinary apple varieties. This may include some of the following: Allington Pippin, Annie Elizabeth, Blenheim Orange, Bountiful, Dumelow's Seedling, Golden Spire, Lane's Prince Albert, Newton Wonder, Reverend W. Wilks, Scotch Dumpling - or other seasonal sub-acid cooking apple varieties.
Cider apples (sold out)
SOLD OUT
Contains a selection of 2 or more cider-apple varieties. Note that this fruit is not suitable for eating, it is intended for juicing for cider production. The apples in this selection are exclusively for cider use but you could also add juice from other mainstream apple varieties to your cider mix (e.g. Bramley, Katy, Cox).
Cox's Orange Pippin relations (sold out)
SOLD OUT
A box of fresh apples containing a selection of 3 or more apple varieties which are related to Cox's Orange Pippin. These samples are intended to allow you to explore and compare the appearance and flavour of these closely-related apple varieties. The box will include samples of Cox's Orange Pippin (or one of its sports) along with at least 2 other related varieties which could include Chivers Delight, Fiesta, Jupiter, Kidd's Orange Red, Laxton's Superb, Rubinette, Sunset or any other variety with a Cox parentage.
Crab Apples (sold out)
SOLD OUT
Contains a seasonal selection of at least 2 fresh crab apple varieties. This could include Evereste, Floribunda, Golden Hornet, Harry Baker, John Downie, Laura, Red Sentinel, Wisley Crab. Crab-apples are generally not suitable for eating fresh, but are excellent for culinary use. Note that crab apples are usually much smaller than regular apples.
Damsons (sold out)
SOLD OUT
A box of fresh damsons containing at least 2 different damson varieties in season. Damsons are primarily used for cooking. Deliveries will be in season, July-August.
Eating apples - in season (sold out)
SOLD OUT
A box of fresh apples containing 4-5 different varieties of seasonal eating apples - a great way to sample the range of different apple varieties grown at the National Fruit Collections. Deliveries start in August with early-season varieties, running through September for mid-season apples, and then into October for the later varieties. If ordering in advance please let us know roughly when you would like delivery.
Juicing apples (sold out)
SOLD OUT
A box of fresh apples containing a selection of 2 or more different apple varieties which are particularly suitable for juicing. The box is likely to include some of the following: Ashmeads Kernel, Fiesta, Gascoyne's Scarlet (pink juice), Holstein (orange juice), Howgate Wonder, Red Devil (pink juice) and varieties related to James Grieve such as Falstaff, which generally have good sharper-flavoured juice.
Late-season eating apples (sold out)
SOLD OUT
A box of fresh apples containing at least 3 different varieties of late-season eating apples. These varieties can be eaten straightaway, but generally improve in flavour with a short period of storage in a cold place, before being eaten in November-December. Deliveries usually start in late September.
Pear selection (sold out)
SOLD OUT
A box of fresh mid or late-season dessert pears containing a selection of 2 or more varieties. Please note that unlike our apples, which are picked when ripe, late-season dessert pears must be picked just before they are ripe and usually need to be ripened in a fruit bowl. Deliveries start in September.
Plums and gages (dessert) (sold out)
SOLD OUT
A box of fresh plums and/or gages containing at least 3 different plum varieties in season. If ordering in advance please let us know roughly when you would like delivery. Deliveries run from July to September. Plums should be stored in a fridge.
Quince selection (sold out)
SOLD OUT
A box of fresh quinces, containing at least 2 different varieties, selected from among Champion, Ivan, Meeches Prolific, Portugal, Serbian Gold, and Vranja. Quinces are not suitable for eating fresh, and are primarily used for culinary purposes such as jams and jellies. A small quantity added to apple pies and crumbles also really lifts the flavour of the apples. (NB. Quinces are quite large fruits, therefore the box is likely to contain roughly 20 fruits in total). See more details about some of these quinces here.
Russet apples (sold out)
SOLD OUT
A box of fresh russet apples, containing a selection of at least 2 different russet varieties. The samples may include any of the following: Ashmeads Kernel, Herefordshire Russet, Norfolk Royal Russet, Saint Edmund's Pippin, Zabergau Reinette, or any other russet variety grown at the National Fruit Collections.
NB. These fresh fruit samples are only available for delivery within the mainland UK, and excluding the Scottish Highlands and UK islands. If in doubt please get in touch. Quantities are very limited. Please make sure you read the full details of our Fresh Fruit Samples service before ordering.
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