Bramley Bicentenary

The bicentenary of the Bramley apple will be celebrated in 2009, marking 200 years since the pip that grew into the first Bramley apple tree was planted. A year of activities has been planned to remind Bramley lovers of the unique qualities of the world's finest cooking apple.

Keep an eye out for the bicentenary logo on products in supermakets and on restaurant menus. Retailers, manufacturers and foodservice companies are supporting the bicentenary celebrations by labelling Bramley products, packaging and merchandise with the bicentenary logo in 2009.

New recipes, articles and inspirational Bramley ideas can be seen throughout 2009 in your favourite newspapers and magazines. So pop down to your local newsagent now!

Keep an eye on this website for more information coming soon and regular updates will be given in future editions of the e newsletter. To sign up to the newsletter click here.

For more information about what we have planned for the Bramley Bicentenary click here.

To view a copy of the Bramley Bicentenary leaflet please click here. This may take a few moments to download.

Celebrity chefs and fascination for fusion spark cooking apple renaissance

The Bramley apple celebrates its bicentenary in 2009, riding a wave of renewed interest which has made the ‘King of Cooking Apples’ and its unique characteristics popular with celebrity chefs and budding cooks. 

Sales of fresh Bramley apples have soared by almost 20% in the past year, indicating not only that die-hard Bramley fans are buying more but also that more people are discovering the apple’s special cooking properties.

The Bramley renaissance has been stimulated by a number of factors:

• Celebrity Chefs: The popularity of the likes of Phil Vickery and Antony Worrall Thompson has made home cooking fashionable – and their advocacy of the Bramley is stimulating sales;
• Multicultural Britain: We have a long tradition of absorbing multicultural influences into our society and our food in particular, but the reverse is also true. Some second and third generation ethnic minority communities have begun to adapt their traditional dishes to incorporate British ingredients – including the Bramley, which is not grown anywhere else;
• The Credit Crunch: The current economic climate is making many people turn to more cost-effective home cooking and using Bramley apples instead of ready meals helps the household budget go a little bit further;
• Environmental Concerns: We are all aware of food miles now and the environmental impact of the foods we eat. Grown only in Britain, the Bramley is an extremely environmentally-friendly product. 

The Bramley Campaign’s Adrian Barlow says: “It is quite fitting that there should be such a resurgence of interest in the Bramley as we approach its bicentenary year. It has survived 200 years because of its unrivalled cooking qualities that no other commercially grown apple can match. It is truly in a class of its own and is a great British institution that we should treasure.”

Today, some 25,000 tonnes of fresh Bramley apples are sold each year, while a further 58,000 tonnes are used commercially in apple products from pies to sausages and sauces to cider and juice. The Bramley name can usually be seen on apple products because consumers recognise its particular qualities.

 

© Bramley Apples 2007