Bramley apple sales worth €5.2m

SALES of Bramley cooking apples, first planted here 199 years ago, increased 9% to €5.2 million in the year to June.

The figures were released yesterday at the launch of Ireland’s first National Bramley Week, from November 10-16, organised by Bord Bia and the Irish Apple Growers Association and Keelings.

The week will celebrate the health and nutritional benefits of Ireland’s favourite apple that accounts for 46% of the production area.

Con Traas, Irish Apple Growers Association, said Bramleys are becoming more popular.

“We are hoping to build on the success of last year’s sales and with a good crop being reaped at the moment we feel we will be able to tap into the growing consumer demand for a traditional apple with many modern uses,” he said.