Protected, Perfected, Proud: Armagh Bramley Apples Reap Rewards Of PGI Recognition

Recognition with an elite European protected status has been a “game-changer” for the Armagh Bramley apple, a grower of the speciality has said.

Armagh Bramleys are one of just three products from Northern Ireland – along with Comber new potatoes and Lough Neagh eels – to be recognised by the European Union’s protected geographical indications (PGI) scheme.

It means that only Bramley apples grown, picked and packed within the Armagh area can carry that name, similar to how Champagne must come from the Champagne region of France, or Parma ham from Italy’s Parma province.

The pride of the Orchard County obtained the status in 2012 and since then has given its growers a “real edge”.

Armagh traces its relationship with apples back to evidence of them growing close to the historic Navan Fort as far back as 1000 BC.

The real turning point came in 1884 when Henry Joseph Nicholson of Crannagael House returned from Nottingham with 60 Bramley seedlings.

They thrived in the local soil, laying the foundation for what is now more than 4,000 acres of thriving orchards across the region, and the county’s nickname.

This legacy is celebrated at Armagh’s annual food and cider weekend every September putting the Bramley in the spotlight.

Greg MacNeice, a fifth-generation apple grower and founder of Mac Ivors Cider, said while Bramley apples have always been a local favourite, PGI status boosted demand.

“The orchards have been here at Ardress since 1855 and my father, Sammy, still helps – just like his father did. Apples are part of who we are,” he said.

He explained that Armagh has got the right soil, the right slopes, a mild, damp climate and cooler temperatures that slow things down, adding that helps the apples develop “that sharp flavour and firm texture people love”.

“It’s not just the conditions though – it’s the generations of knowledge, care and pride that go into every crop,” he said.

“PGI status has helped protect the heritage of our apple and given us a real edge in the market.

“If it’s not grown in Armagh, it’s not a true Armagh Bramley. That means consumers are guaranteed something authentic – fruit with a unique taste and texture you can’t find anywhere else. It’s also boosted demand – both at home and abroad – for a product that is trusted, traceable and rooted in place.

“It’s one of only three products in Northern Ireland with PGI status and one of just a few across the island of Ireland. That’s something we’re incredibly proud of as a region.”

Source: Belfast Telegraph