Tru-Cape’s  Heritage Orchard opens February 4 to the public.

Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, the largest marketer of South African apples and pears, opens its Heritage Orchard of historic apple and pear trees to the public for a guided tour hosted by Tru-Cape’s Quality Assurance Manager, Henk Griessel and New Varietal Expert Buks Nel at Oak Valley Estate in Grabouw on Saturday, February 4 between 10am and 12noon.

There will be an opportunity to see and taste historic fruit no longer in commercial production. While there is no charge for the two hour experience, places are limited to 30 people and tickets booked via Quicket  http://qkt.io/ln3UPk must be shown at the gate to gain entry.

According to Griessel and Nel who co-authored a book on historic apple varietals, “Apples in the early days at the Cape”, available for purchase at the open days and from Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing at R300 a copy, the Kroonappel will be one of the varieties available to taste.

“Further investigation has shown that there were four Kroonappels, but it is most likely that the one around at the Cape in 1723 was the Kroon-Appel with the synonyms Fyne Kroon, Aagt-appel, Engelsche or Hollandsche Aagt or Lekker Beetje. This apple is from Holland. The Kroonappel’s fruit is described as of medium size, round, but sometimes lop-sided, the skin is smooth, colour is green-yellowish with pale red stripes. The flesh is soft, somewhat yellow with a very pleasant herby taste. It is said to be a good table apple. The tree is relatively large and bears well. Tracing the whereabouts of the Kroon-appel or Aagt (appel) was very interesting though extremely sketchy, based purely on personal communications and a few magazine snippets”, says Griessel.

Please note that no seating, bathroom or refreshment facilities will be available in the orchard and people should consider sensible walking shoes and be sure to have appropriate weather and sun protection.

Tru-Cape published a book about early apples at The Cape.

For a visit to The Apple Museum in Grabouw, contact Norma on 021 848 9060 to arrange a museum visit or, to make a reservation for lunch at The Pool Room restaurant on Oak Valley Estate., contact:  021 859 4111 or poolroom@oak-valley.co.za.

Booking for the Tru-Cape Heritage Orchard Open Day via Quicket.co.za http://qkt.io/ln3UPk.