One of Austria's largest retail chains, Spar, has begun a pilot rollout of unusual and long-forgotten apple varieties. The initiative aims to test whether these historic fruits can thrive in current commercial and environmental conditions.
Working with produce distributor Frutura, Spar is reintroducing two rare varieties: Ilzer Rosenapfel, which dates from around 1840, and Falchs Gulderling, identified in the 1870s. These varieties are part of an international trend to revive heirloom fruits and vegetables.
Currently, only about 10 of the 2,000 apple types grown in Austria are available in supermarkets. Experts from the environmentalist NGO Arche Noah were consulted to identify heritage apples suitable for modern large-scale cultivation methods.
An experimental orchard in Styria now contains 2,150 trees. The first fruits were picked this week for sampling and are scheduled to be sent to a trial supermarket in Vienna, as well as regional daycare centres and schools, next month. The team will assess the apples' taste, growth performance, disease susceptibility, and shelf life.