Apple Varieties Thought Extinct Rediscovered In Washington And Idaho Palouse Region
Five types of apples, once thought to be extinct, have been rediscovered in northern Idaho and eastern Washington.
The Lewiston Tribune newspaper reported that “apple detective” David Benscoter located the trees growing near Steptoe Butte on the rolling hills of the Palouse, known in modern times more for wheat and lentils than for tree-fruit agriculture.
Benscoter worked with apple experts at the Temperate Orchard Conservancy in Oregon and Fedco Seeds in Maine to get positive identifications on the fruit. The apples were compared to written descriptions from old books and antique watercolor paintings.
The newly rediscovered apples include the Shackleford, Saxon Priest, Kittageskee, Ewalt and McAffee varietals.
Benscoter is still on the hunt for other forgotten fruit. So far he’s found 20 more varieties that he thinks may have been considered lost or extremely rare, based on old county fair records.
– BY ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWSWIRE
Related Stories:
‘Vintage year’ for apple crop, experts say the weather was just right
Freshly picked red delicious apples gather in a bin. Northwest red delicious and galas are again shipping to India after tariffs were lifted. (Courtesy: Washington Apple Commission) Read Many Northwest
Cosmic Crisp boasts big sales for Washington, with new apple varieties on the way
Cosmic Crisp apples on the Mother Tree near Wenatchee Washington. (Credit: Bob Hubner / Washington State University) Listen (Runtime 1:06) Read Known for its crunch and sweet taste, the Cosmic
Delicious Death: India’s apple tariffs crush business for Northwest Red Delicious apple farmers
For decades boatloads of Northwest apples have shipped to India – especially the variety Red Delicious. But since Trump-era tariffs on steel and aluminum went into place, retaliatory tariffs have put a crunch on that valuable fruit market. Now, Washington state’s full congressional delegation is asking the federal government for help.
