Dunedin apple lovers used to having only a handful of varieties to choose from might be surprised to learn more than 300 different species are being grown right under their noses.
The Volco Park Cultivar Preservation Orchard on Mt Cargill is opening its doors to the public this month in an effort to attract a new generation of apple enthusiasts.
"We’re all getting older and we’re in a difficult situation of hoping to find people to take up the baton and carry it on," NZ Tree and Crops Association committee member Paul Snyder said.
The orchard is home to a near 30-year project that aims to discover, identify and preserve a variety of heritage apple species.
The project was proposed in 1995 by Jim Dunckley.
Its location moved to Mt Cargill in 2003 and it will mark its 20th anniversary with an open day on March 12.
Mr Snyder said that heritage trees had certain values that had been commercially lost.
"It became a concern to members about retaining some of these older, tastier varieties that had useful qualities for certain people."
The data collected gave them insight into disease resistance, taste, looks and growing capabilities, as well as their compatibility with the coastal Otago environment, he said.
The NZ Tree and Crops Association is a group of amateur researchers and domestic propagators who are interested in growing trees for productive reasons.
The orchard contains more than 200 trees, spanning 300 varieties.
Some trees produce more than one variety each.
My Snyder’s role is to assess whether they produce viable quality fruit.
He said the number of trees and variations could at times be "quite boggling".
Among the weird and wonderful varieties are Peasgood’s nonsuch, Nontit bastard, hens turd, Warner’s king and Albany beauty.
Maintaining the variety of apples was not as simple as replanting the seeds, as some species "don’t run true to seed".
The orchard was able to propagate its varieties with the use of scion wood.
Scion wood is a piece of stem, or woodstock, from one variety that is embedded in the roots of another.
Mr Snyder said membership of the association was getting older and he hoped the open day would generate enthusiasm from younger people.
He said that working on the farm was very satisfying.
"People that collect things are some of the happiest people in the world."
You can peruse the orchard for yourself at 524 Mt Cargill Rd on March 12.
