The wonderful Bulgarian apple

published on 10/18/12 1:27 PM

Photo: BGNES

Do you remember the paintings of Vladimir Dimitrov-Maistora and his rural girls standing among trees full of apples? They are red and juicy and look as though they will come out of the picture and come to us so we can enjoy their sweetness. The girls from the Kustendil region painted by the renowned Bulgarian artist look so healthy and ruddy-cheeked as if they took some of the redness of the apple. These paintings brought world popularity to Vladimir Dimitrov. The apple is the most popular fruit in Bulgaria. It grows well in this country along with some other fruits typical for Bulgaria.

According to most of the explorers apple is the healthiest fruit. Regular consumption of apples prevents people from stress and the vitamin C reduces the cellulite in the human body. The pectin and the cellulose help digestion and are extremely helpful in the process of losing weight. The ascorbic acid removes the toxins from our bodies and makes us look younger. These good qualities of the apple make it a unique food of the Bulgarian people. In the Bulgarian fruit-growing institutes experts are working on the creation of new fruits including new sorts of apples. New apple varieties selected abroad are becoming popular in Bulgaria. Dimitar Domozetov is director of the agricultural institute in the town on Kustendil, western Bulgaria, which is one of the regions where apples grow well. This fruit grows well in the southwestern part of the country as well as in southern Bulgaria and Varna region.

“Over the last 1 year the institute in Kustendil managed to select 5 sorts of this fruit”, says Domozetov. One of these sorts was improved in quality. This was the Besepara sort. We recommend them to the farmers because these sorts are resistant to the major disease that harms apples- the Ventura Inaequalis. The other 4 sorts are Elegya, Marlena, Martinika and Gorana. They are very good sorts which could become popular for growing on our fields, especially in regions where bio products will be grown.”

Bulgaria has huge potential to grow bio vegetables and fruits and to compete successfully on the international markets, says Dimitar Domozetov and adds that in comparison to the first years after the democratic changes the areas planted with apples are much smaller in size now.

“In 1989 there were 47 000 hectares of apples and now there are only 5 000 hectares of this fruit, or 10 times less than before. It means we have the potential to grow this fruit. However we have to open our market to the East and Russia, as it was before. This is so because our vegetable and fruit produce is very well known in these regions. And of course people will buy something they know well”, Domozetov goes on to say.

The weather in Bulgaria this year was very bad. The extremely cold winter and the long hot and dry summer as well as the high temperatures have affected the apple yield. The apple trees wielded 10% to 80% less fruit as compared to last year. According to Dimitar Domozetov farmers can expect a harvest of 8000 to 11000 kilograms per hectare. So the Bulgarians will continue to buy imported apples, which are coming mainly from Macedonia, Poland and Greece. Bulgarian fruit-growers need to receive more subsidies in order to compete with producers from other countries where such subsidies are immense. Thus more and more Bulgarian farmers will start growing this traditional fruit. The temperature amplitudes in Bulgaria help the apples to ripen well and cover in a wonderful red color says Domozetov. Temperature amplitude of 15°C to 20 °C is perfect for the production of good and aromatic fruit. If temperatures fall to around 2°C during the night they reach 22°C later during the day, which is perfect for the apples to ripen.

“Fruit-growing and vine-growing are the poetry of the agriculture”, says Dimitar Domozetov.” In order to become good vine-grower or fruit-grower one has to have the skills and sufficient funds. That is why fruit growers in Bulgaria are mainly people who can afford to invest money in 2 or 3 consecutive years. The money invested in this sphere pays back after the 3rd year. Now the interest in fruit-growing is increasing rapidly. The number of people who grow apples in small gardens is on the rise. Most of them are driven by nostalgia for the huge apple gardens from their childhood”, concludes Dimitar Domozetov

If you go to any Bulgarian house during the autumn and the winter and find the coolest place there, you will see apples which are kept over hay covered shelves. Apples are the usual winter temptation for most people when it comes to deserts. Baked apples, apple pie, apple compote made from dried fruit are among the favorite deserts of the Bulgarian people.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov

По публикацията работи: Milka Dimitrova

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The wonderful Bulgarian apple

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