North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Thomas Olenio" <tolenio@sentex.net>]

Hello,

 

Is anybody growing an old Italian named; Melannurca (Annurca)?

 

It is an odd duck in that…

 

“One of the aspects that more than anything enhances the typicalness of this "queen of apples" is the way the apples are left on the ground in the apple field to redden. The Annurca is mostly green when harvested and its characteristic red colour is the result of the sun s rays and the able hands that periodically turn the apples laid out on specially prepared terrain, exposing the green part of the fruit to the sun little by little. This treatment can last from 20-50 days. In ancient times the Annurca apples were arranged on "cannutoli", layers of hemp, that now have been replaced with other materials such as pine needles or, more often, wood shavings. The apple fields are also protected with anti-hailstone nets which also provide shade, to protect the fruit from direct sunliglit that would damage it irreversibly.”

 

http://tasteofsorrento.sorrentoinfo.com/prodotti/melannurca_eng.asp

 

I have never heard of this ripening technique with any other apple.

 

Later,

Tom