The BC Fruit Growers' Association showcased BC's finest apples at the National Apple Competition and won several awards this fall.
The competition was held at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto and showcased BC growers' finest crops.
In the New Varieties Category, the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion went to Ambrosia and Salish varieties.
"I congratulate the orchardists from across Canada who participated in the National Apple Competition," stated Glen Lucas, general manager of BC Fruit Growers' Association.
Steve Brown from Happy Valley Harvest in Summerland won an award for his Ambrosia variety. Brown was the recipient of the Canadian Horticultural Council Trophy and crowned Grand Champion for his Ambrosia variety.
Denise and Richard McDonald of McDonald Farm in Summerland won the Reserve Champion for their Salish entry in New Varieties.
The growers were especially pleased with the final results considering there was a mix-up with a lost delivery of apples, according Lucas.
"We express our special thanks to Ontario Fruit Growers' Association, who went above and beyond the call of duty to recover our lost delivery of apples, enabling BC to participate this year. The help that Ontario Apple Growers' Association provided shows the camaraderie and team approach that we have in the Canadian Apple Industry," stated Lucas.
BC also placed in the Commercial categories of Red Delicious with BCFGA President, Fred Steele's entry.
David Bullach of Kelowna placed first in Spartan, a variety bred at the Summerland Research and Development Centre in 1936.
"It was great to win first place for the Salish variety, but even more important that Ontario growers placed second and third for Salish - it proves that our national apple breeding program is making discoveries for all regions of the federation," stated Lucas.
Again, Summerland came through by placing second in the Most Unusual Shaped Apple category.
The apple was grown at the Summerland Research and Development Centre.
Here are the B.C. competitors who placed this year:
Rajan Bagha: Third for Spartan and sixth for Ambrosia.
David Bullach: First in Spartan, fourth in Golden Delicious and seventh in Ambrosia.
Fred Steele: First in Red Delicious, fifth in McIntosh and sixth in Gala.
Denise and Richard McDonald: Reserve Champion in new varieties Salish and first in Aurora Golden Gala.
Angie Ritz: Second in Ambrosia, second in Aurora Golden Gala and first in other new variety, Nicola.
Steve Brown: Grand Champion in new varieties, Ambrosia.
Summerland Research and Development Centre: Second in Must Unusually Shaped Apple.
