Jonagold, the star.

The range of Flemish apples contains a considerable number of high quality varieties. Summer varieties: James Grieve, Summer Red; Autumn: Elstar and Cox's Orange Pippins; and Winter: Boskoop, Gloster, Golden Delicious, Jonagold and its dark red hybrids, Jonagored and the lighter King hybrids. Jonagold apples and its various hybrids are without doubt the stars in the firmament.

In the 1960s Belgian researchers brought to Europe from America the JONAGOLD apple, a cross between Golden Delicious and Jonathan. The Jonagold apple was to find its ideal home in the Haspengouw region of Belgium with its high fertility and moderate and very changeable climate.

In the last seven years alone, production has increased by a factor of three. Belgian apples are increasingly cultivated according to the intergrated approach.

Environmental-consciousness insecticides in harmony with the natural processes are a must in a region where orchards and residential areas are close proximity of one another. The methods of cultivation, storage and marketing comply fully with the requirements of European traders and consumers.

Boskoop.

This is a well-rounded, rough apple which is grey-green with a touch of russet. In recent years, it has most often been marketed in the form of red mutant varieties. It is the best apple for cooking. In addition, people who know about apples appreciate it as an eating apple. It is used from September on as a cooking apple, while as a table apple it is at its best from December to April. No other variety contains as much vitamin C, fruit acid and sugars.

Use: as an eating apple or for use in cooking.

Golden Delicious.

This fruit is very fleshy and delicious. The colour changes from green initially to the typical golden yellow at harvest time. The fresh fruit flesh is also yellow and has a crunchy consistency. After long conservation, the taste of this apple becomes sweet and it takes on a very characteristic aroma.

Use: table apple.

Gloster.

Gloster is a cross between Glockäpfel and Richard Delicious. The fruits of this variety are very well-rounded, irregular in shape and very ribbed around the nose. The colour is dark to purple on a yellow background. The fruit flesh is very firm and very juicy. The fruits sometimes have a white fungus in the core. This is not, however, an abnormality caused by conservation but a typical characteristic of the fruit.