The Organic Apples for Norway project is the biggest Norwegian research project in its field. The most important goal is to find new apple varieties that are scab-resistant, find favour with consumers and are suitable for growing organically in Norway.
No success without suitable varieties
Thus far, the project has succeeded in arriving at several good, new, scab-resistant apple varieties.
"The basic idea is that organic apples should taste at least as good as conventional apples. The taste is mainly decided by the variety. Growing conditions also have an effect, and the apples must be harvested when they are ripe. In order to succeed, it is therefore necessary to choose scab-resistant varieties with good flavour," points out Sveinung Grimsby, consultant at Nofima Mat.
Grimsby is supported in this by project manager and producer Alf Kigen of Økofrukt. Kigen underlines the point that choice of variety is vital for success in growing organic apples. He has been collaborating for many years with Olav Jønsi, who is one of Norway's biggest and most successful producers of organic apples, which puts them both in a unique position to provide factual and valuable advice.
He says that the market for organic Norwegian apples is very good.
"We haven't noticed any effects at all from the financial crisis, as producers of other organic products have. Demand is good. The customers want good, reliable quality, good quantities and a reliable supply. We are doing very good business at the moment and we strive to ensure that as much of the value created as possible remains with the producer. Operations and profitability are entirely dependent on the consumer's confidence in the goods and in us as producers. Finances are solid, profitability is good and growth is very positive, but it is important to understand that starting up as an apple producer takes patience. Most of the investment occurs at the start up phase, but it takes several years before you see any income, which can make it difficult to raise loan capital. In my case, I invested NOK 800,000 six years before I saw any income," explains Kigen.
Extending the Norwegian apple season
In addition to carrying out many consumer tests at schools, in shops and in hotels, the sensory panel at Nofima Mat has judged different apple varieties on the basis of appearance, smell, taste and texture. Chemical analyses have also been carried out on constituents such as sugar, acid and phenols. The results, which show that there are large differences between apple varieties, will also be of great use to other fruit growers.
The sensory tests are conducted over a three year period and at various times during the autumn.
"In this way we can also find out how the apple varieties are affected by storage. This will help in extending the season for organic Norwegian apples," says Anne Segtnan, leader of the sensory panel at Nofima Mat.
Extending the Norwegian apple season is the ambition of many and this is one of the important areas to concentrate further research on. "Økofrukt is now seeking a new project, or an extension of this product, with the focus on good keeping varieties. The aim is to produce the varieties and quantities that will also keep the market for organic apples satisfied from the middle of November until Christmas," explains Kigen.
Broad based collaboration - even across the border
A central feature of this project is the collaboration with Sweden's main producer of organic fruit, Stiftelsen Biodynamiska Produkter.
"The combination of solid professional expertise and the competence that comes from experience has provided a lot of new and useful knowledge. We have collaborated closely with Stiftelsen Biodynamiska Produkter in Sweden and they have been very generous in sharing their expertise with us. For example, we have been able to share in their large-scale experience with new apple varieties, which has saved us many years of testing. We now hope to extend this Nordic collaboration and involve a major Danish producer," says Kigen.
The Research Council of Norway has contributed to financing the project through the Food Programme and the Foundation for Research Levy on Agricultural Products.
"I think this is a very exciting and interesting project, which is borne out by the very fact that it has gained funding from the Research Council in the face of fierce competition," says consultant to the Food Programme Kirsti Anker-Nilssen. She adds that as a general rule the Research Council is positive towards user-controlled research projects for which the industry itself has taken the initiative and carries out with support from R&D experts. "This is something the Food Programme is trying to encourage more of and in recent years we have seen increasing interest from the industry, throughout the value chain," concludes Anker-Nilssen.
