For many years, apples have been an essential part of diets and agriculture worldwide. With a wide variety of apple types, everyone can find a fruit that fits their preferred taste, texture, and use. Modern cultivation techniques and research into apple trees have enabled the development of varieties with increasingly better storage, flavor, and technological properties.
Three varieties stand out in this context: Royal Gala, Red Jonaprince, and Ligol. Each of these brings something unique to the apple-growing sector – from distinctive taste profiles to production efficiency and exceptional storage and distribution characteristics. Let’s take a closer look at what sets these stars apart!
Royal Gala – Sweet Flavor and Stability in Every Crunch
Royal Gala is a variety that originates from New Zealand, where it was developed in 1934 by crossing ‘Orange Red’ and ‘Golden Delicious.’ This apple is admired for its high yield stability and excellent storage capabilities. Its fruits are intensely red with a golden-yellow background, and the flesh remains crisp and juicy over time.
Chemical analyses reveal that Royal Gala has a high sugar content and moderate acidity levels, resulting in its characteristic sweet taste. This variety is well-suited for direct consumption and processing, particularly in the production of natural NFC (not from concentrate) juices. With its adaptability to diverse climatic conditions, Royal Gala ranks among the most widely cultivated apple varieties in Europe1.
Red Jonaprince – Bold Color Paired with High Yield
Red Jonaprince, belonging to the Jonagold family, inherits its deep red-burgundy skin and firm flesh from its lineage. These apples are large and offer a flavor that balances moderate acidity with a high level of soluble solids, making them particularly appealing in the dessert apple market.
This variety is also known for its high productivity and strong resistance to storage-related diseases. Research confirms that apples of this variety maintain their firmness and sensory qualities even after long storage periods in controlled atmospheres. Additionally, their low susceptibility to disorders such as bitter pit and other physiological issues makes Red Jonaprince a preferred choice for growers seeking consistently high-quality produce2.
Ligol – The Champion of Storage
Ligol, a variety developed in Central Europe, stands out for its exceptionally long storage duration without quality loss. Its fruits are large and round, with a vivid red blush on a yellow background. With very firm flesh, Ligol is remarkably durable and resistant to mechanical damage, an essential feature for logistics and distribution.
Studies indicate that Ligol has a high polyphenol content, contributing to its ability to stay fresh for extended periods. This variety also boasts increased resistance to diseases, enabling reduced use of plant protection products during cultivation. Thanks to these attributes, Ligol is an excellent choice for direct sale and for storage in controlled atmosphere (CA) or ultra-low oxygen (ULO) cold storage. CA technology manages oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to slow apple ripening, while ULO storage further prolongs freshness and firmness by minimizing oxygen content3.
Modern Varieties, New Opportunities!
Royal Gala, Red Jonaprince, and Ligol are varieties that stand out not only for their taste but also their technological attributes, enabling efficient cultivation and storage. With modern production and selection methods, European apple growers can provide fruits with consistent quality all year round, ensuring consumers have access to premium apples no matter the season.
Want to learn more about the key aspects of apple cultivation in Europe? Check out other articles on the Taste Europe blog and uncover the secrets of European orchards!
1 https://up.lublin.pl/blog/sad-doswiadczalny-na-felinie-w-nowej-odslonie/
