There was been some correspondence a while ago about the origin of the apple Suffolk Pink, and we think it would be a good idea to have some input from the discoverer, Dan Neuteboom, and to this we are adding information about an earlier Neuteboom discovery, Winter Wonder.
These two varieties were first recognized at Dan’s Braiseworth orchards on High Suffolk clay near Eye.
In many respects the confusion over the origin that has been created by the various statements and reports about Suffolk Pink reflects many of the problems of identifying any variety’s historic or genetic origin and the sequences that lead to its discovery and subsequent propagation. It suggests we need to be careful when the originator is around to tell us the facts … and when DNA typing is available and waiting in the wings to correct us all … eventually.
Suffolk Pink: this dessert apple has an unusual pale translucent lemon-and-pink complexion somewhat reminiscent of the early summer apple White Transparent, and something of that variety’ sharp freshness, but is a keeper with a faintly Gala-like flavour, suggesting to several observers that it is a Gala sport or relative, but it may turn out to be unique. It seems to be different from Gala in several ways, notably its very downy, blue-green sepals. Its real origin is not known: what is known is as follows.
Some time in the early 1980s Dan noticed a tree in his orchard that was different from the rest of the row, which were mixed Discovery and Worcester Pearmain. The original plants had been supplied from Jack Matthews nursery at Thurston in Suffolk in the 1970s, but it is not now possible to sure whether they were propagated at Thurston, or bought in for resale to Dan. It was sometime before the fruit quality was noticed and when it was Dan went back to Jack to find out what it was; Jack didn’t know either, thought it was unique, and as he had had such success with Discovery which he acquired from its discoverer in Essex, suggested that Dan try his hand at promoting it. It had no name at this time.
In the 1980s and 1990s Dan propagated trial plantings, by grafting and budding in his own orchards, and showed the fruit to a buyer at a supermarket which took them on, promoting them under the name Suffolk Pink, a decision made by the supermarket. Who thought the name up is now lost, probably a supermarket salesman. The name is not registered and nor are Plant Breeders Rights.
Suffolk Pink was planted by Dan elsewhere in Suffolk, at Helmingstone and Stonham Aspall, on his outlying orchards, and subsequently these orchards were sold on: Hemingstone in 2000, with established plantings that the buyers benefited from, hence the spread of the variety to other suppliers and outlets, and the probable source of the various alternative histories that have arisen from these later plantings.
Winter Wonder: this was a sport of Suntan, which can produce fruit that is too large or too variable in size for sized sales. Winter Wonder is more densely spurred, produces more uniform sized and less irregular crops – and as a fan of both Suntan and Winter Wonder Paul thinks he can detect a difference in taste. Dan found the tree in his Braiseworth orchard in the late 1970s in a Suntan planting, and propagated and promoted it. The name is Dan’s registered trademark. Today it is sold by Waitrose and at farmer’s markets.
Dan’s Braiseworth orchard is now run by his daughter, Kathy Neuteboom, and her partner Jeremy Linsell.
Dan Neuteboom and Paul Read
Winter Wonder, on 19 April, just out of cold store, in perfect condition and a fine colour. Notice the very reflex downy sepals, and a slightly smoother, flatter apex/basin than Suntan (and Paul thinks it is finer texture and considerably more juicy).
Where can I buy a Winter Wonder tree? Waitrose sell the apples, but only for a short season, and I would like to have them for as long as possible through the winter. It’s one of the tastiest apples I have had in a long time, eclipsing Cox, which now seem to be sold very under-ripe, and Jazz, which are rather tough for elderly teeth.
These two varieties are the result of chance discoveries at Dan Neuteboom’s orchards at Braiseworth in Suffolk.
Suffolk Pink was found in a line of another variety, noticed as different by Dan and propagated as a new variety, its real origin completely unknown. It is a firm apple and does have some similarities with Gala but it doesn’t have a Gala taste and its pink flush on a very pale lemon ground sets it apart. It is now grown commercially by some other growers as well as Dan’s family, but not widely. It is available from East of England Apples and Orchard Project (EEAOP) on MM106 only. As far as I know there is no other source.
Only since I have been growing Suffolk Pink myself have I discovered that, although it is picked in October/November as a shiny pale pink apple, by Christmas in my not very cool storage it changes, becoming a deep gold flushed with the most startling sunset vermillion and develops a rich and complex Christmassy flavour, a most spectacular table decoration and taste experience.
Winter Wonder is not available at all. However this isn’t a completely unique variety. It was discovered in a line of Suntan, as a ‘branch sport’, and recognized because of its different growth habit, with numerous spurs, a more fruitful variety producing slightly smaller and much more uniformly sized fruit than Suntan.
Suntan is one of my absolutely favourite apples, I have standard tree on a vigorous rootstock and eventually I can see it is going to be a vast tree. It is triploid, bearing many fruit on the tips of its branches and few spurs so if you prune it you risk removing a large proportion of the flower buds. The fruit, especially the king fruit, are often large resulting in a wide range of fruit sizes. It is delicious, keeps in cool conditions until February, and everyone should have one. In a garden context I doubt if it the fruit would be separable from Winter Wonder, which is a grower’s form of Suntan.
Every year Dan sells Winter Wonder from his stall at one of Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Apple Days and I have a few to compare with my Suntan. I think I can tell a difference – my family tell me its my imagination!
Waitrose sell Winter Wonder, but not for long. How do I get a tree?
Please do you know where I could buy a ‘Suffolk Pink’ apple for a cordon in a little garden in Suffolk?
(Fruit Forum: see post above from Paul Read)
Recent DNA analysis has shown Suffolk Pink as a match to Delorgue (synonym Festival), Raised by George Delbard of Malicorm, France.