Yello apple makes its debut at Interpoma

The Japanese-bred yellow apple Yello® – being exclusively grown and marketed for Europe in northern Italy – made its debut on November 25 at the Interpoma trade show in Bolzano.

The new apple variety behind the Yello trademark, Shinano Gold, was created in Nagano in 1993 from a cross between the Golden Delicious and the Senshu. The Yello trademark is now registered in 60 countries.

In 2005, the tree was planted in South Tyrol, the major Italian apple growing area, for the first time and a decade later, in 2015, the first harvest of Shinano Gold grown in Alto Adige – Südtirol took place.

This year, an exclusive license for the production and marketing of Shinano Gold in Europe and the Mediterranean basin was signed between Japan’s Nagano Prefecture and VOG, the Association of South Tyrolean Fruit Growers’ Cooperatives, and VI.P, the Association of Val Venosta Fruit Growers’ Cooperatives.

Yello has smooth alabaster yellow-coloured skin and a sweet, crunchy and juicy centre, they said in a press release.

VOG director Gerhard Dichgans said Yello provides an excellent opportunity to break new ground in the yellow apple segment, historically the realm of a single traditional variety.

“With Yello we also want to write a new chapter in the markets in which the Golden Delicious has for years been left in the shadows, such as in the UK and Germany,” he said.

VOG chairman Georg Kössler said such innovation is key for the future of apple growing in Alto Adige – Südtirol, where over 150,000 Shinano Gold trees will be planted over 2017-18.

Sensory analysis
From a sensory perspective, the pleasant straw-yellow colour of the skin combines harmoniously with its intense and slightly exotic and tropical aroma. This intensifies in the mouth with the appearance of pineapple, pear, honey and lemon peel notes.
The flesh of the fruit is fine and compact, and combines perfectly with its crunchiness and juiciness. Consumers that prefer sweet apples will appreciate its low acidity, notable sweetness and aroma.

Characteristics
Peel: yellow
Flesh: sweet, crunchy and juicy
Shelf-life: excellent
Maturation: 2 weeks after the Golden Delicious
Productivity: like the Gala
Harvest: several stages required
Reduced susceptibility to russeting
Good resistance to bruising
Flesh firmness: 7-8 kg/cm² at harvest
Sugar content: 14 – 16 ° Brix at harvest
Acid content: 4 – 5 g/l MA at harvest

Pairings
Thanks to its slight tropical aroma and notable sweetness it goes well with exotic spices such as ginger, curry or rare varieties of pepper in preparations such as chutney or in sweet and sour dishes, giving them perfect sensory balance. The Shinano Gold apple is also excellent with mature cheeses such as Parmesan or blue cheese.