Tru-Cape replants Heritage Apples and launches new book about the history of Cape apples

Henk Griessel and Buks Nel, authors of Apples in the Early Days at The Cape about historic varieties.

Historic apple varieties replanted at the Cape On October 26, 2012, 350 years after Jan van Riebeeck planted the first trees in The Company Gardens at the Cape, Tru-Cape, the largest distributor of South African apples and pears, replanted early apple varieties, mostly forgotten, in a Heritage Block at Oak Valley Estate, Grabouw.

The replanting of these heirloom varieties will preserve the bud-wood and flavours for future generations. At the same time, a book that tracks the original apples planted at the Cape, commissioned by Tru-Cape, was also launched. Written by New Variety Specialist, Buks Nel and Tru-Cape Quality Assurance Manager, Henk Griessel, “Apples in the Early Days at The Cape”, tracks the history of mostly forgotten varieties. One of the challenges the authors experienced was the paucity of readily available information about historic plantings. Tru-Cape Managing Director, Charles Hughes, explains that when they discovered how few records of apple varieties planted in the Cape existed, they became aware of the overwhelming responsibility to preserve the knowledge and to ensure that when future generations look back to this century, they will have excellent records of the fruit we enjoyed. The research, over a two-year period, led the authors to interview older growers who might have remembered varieties that are no longer propagated. “We found the best records in Jan van Riebeeck’s diary and in other documents we sourced from the VOC/Dutch East India Company in Holland which still maintains an office” says Buks Nel explaining, “we owe a debt of thanks to people like Van Riebeeck, who left us with meticulous notes where, in fact, he recorded when he picked the first apples at the Cape. Then there was François Valentijn, a local church minister in the 1720’s, who made copious notes on horticulture at the Cape. After Valentijn there was a gap of about 180 years before the excellent correspondent and nurseryman, H.E.V. Pickstone, appeared on the scene.

We are very pleased that Wendy Pickstone, his granddaughter, was present and handed an apple tree to Oak Valley’s Anthony Rawbone-Viljoen whose great grandfather bought the same variety from Pickstone’s nursery in 1899, repeating the circle that led to the Elgin/Grabouw/Villiersdorp Valleys becoming integral to the Cape’s apple production. Henk Griessel says that on the 17th of April 1662 Jan van Riebeeck made this historic entry in his diary: “Heavy drizzle in the morning and a strong north-westerly wind blowing in from the sea. Today the first two ripe Dutch apples were picked in the Company’s nursery garden. They came from a little tree no more than 1.5 meters. This type of apple is known as a Wijnappel.” Henk says that the first apple weighed between 165g and 180g. “It was a historic day and date to be remembered by every South African apple grower. We hope that our replanting of the Wijnappel and others will be seen to be as significant in years to come.” The book is available from Tru-Cape offices or via www.tru-cape.com at R250 per copy. Email info@tru-cape.co.za.