General Roca, Río Negro, Patagonia Argentina
giardina@giardinahnos.com.ar
APPLES
Gala
The fruit is conical with a closed calyx and a long stem. It is middle-sized. It can weigh from 170 to 180 grams and it can have a calibre of 65 to 75 millimetres. Yet, in trees with specific mutations or in unfavourable seasons, it has a tendency to reduce its shape. Regarding its skin, the background colour is, at first, light green turning almost white when it is ready to be picked. Then, it starts to look yellower as it ripens. The intensity and the percentage of the surface covered in red depends on the clone, the conditions in which it was farmed and the position of the fruit on the tree. Firstly, some orangish red stripes appear that cover the background colour to a lesser or greater extent, as this red colour intensifies. Lenticels are round and small. The flesh is yellowish, crisp, juicy, with a fine texture, moderately aromatic and of relatively neutral orgaleptic quality. It is ideal for consumers that prefer not very acid apples.
Red Delicious
The fruit is conical with five easily identifiable lobes, sometimes a bit irregular due to pollination deficiencies. It can weigh from 160 to 240 grams and have a calibre of 70 to 85 millimetres and a height of 85 to 90 millimetres. The stem is middle-sized and a bit curved. Its calyx is practically open, depending on its age. Its epidermis is consistent, of a green colour with bright red stripes in most of its surface. Yet, the colour tends to be heterogeneous in fruits that are equally exposed to sunlight, thus making this characteristic highly dependent on the position fruits have on the tree. The flesh is yellowish white, with a slightly grainy texture, juicy, somewhat aromatic, sweet and of good flavour. It can lose some of its firmness and show flouriness under certain conditions.
Granny Smith
The fruit is conical, regular, homogeneous and medium to large sized. It can weigh from 190 to 210 grams and have a calibre of 75 to 80 millimetres, with a medium stem. Its epidermis is sticky, of an intense green colour with white lenticels that can be spotted easily. Sometimes, the colour can turn to blushed in one face; but, in general, this affects fruits on weakened trees and/or with little foliage, or with problems in their grafting, especially when filters have been employed or on regrafted plants. Also, this trait has been identified in regions with high insolation levels or with very marked thermal amplitude. However, in very cold weather conditions, the epidermis of the fruits that are on the internal parts of the tree tends to turn to off-white. The flesh is greenish white, firm, crisp, remarkably acid and slighly aromatic.
