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- From: Alan Haigh <alandhaigh@gmail.com>
- To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
- Subject: [NAFEX] my definition of heirloom apples
- Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:33:55 -0400
What exactly is an heirloom is based on usage. In the case of apples it certainly has nothing to do with passing down seeds as I'm sure Lon realizes. Generally heirloom apples are historic apples- meaning once popular but not popular any more. This is the way the word is used in the nursery trade as I see it.
Some apple heirlooms never went completely out of commercial production, such as Northern Spy, Golden Russett and Newtown Pippin, but their production has shrunk to such a limited level that most people have never tasted them. I'd say any apple discovered after the beginning of the 20th century is still too young to be considered an heirloom. As was stated, it is a non-specific category.
- [NAFEX] my definition of heirloom apples, Alan Haigh, 09/23/2009
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