The Food Chain
How to invent an apple
Jan 18, 2024
Explore the science behind breeding new apple varieties and the challenges of selling them. Learn about the tradition of Wasailing in the UK and the impact of climate change on apple farming.
27:32
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The apple industry focuses on a limited number of apple varieties for supermarkets, prioritizing consistent quality and consumer preferences, while breeders work to bring new and improved varieties to the market.
- Apple breeding is a meticulous process that involves making crosses between different apple varieties, evaluating seedlings based on genetic information, and waiting several years for the trees to bear fruit, aiming to create new varieties with improved characteristics.
Deep dives
The Business of Apples
Supermarkets and big grocery stores offer only a handful of apple varieties, while there are over 7,500 apple varieties in the world. This limited selection is due to the focus on commoditization, consistent fruit quality, and consumer preferences. The dominant apple varieties are known as 'club varieties,' which have a premium price and require specialized marketing. However, breeders are constantly working to bring new and improved apple varieties to the market, considering factors such as taste, texture, color, disease resistance, and ability to store well.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
