24 October 2011, 15:05 PM
  • Rubens Apple has been crowned Britain's Tastiest Apple for the second year running at the National Fruit Show, held on 20th October

Three different apple farmers were awarded first, second and third place after a blind taste test. The results revealed all three winners were cultivators of the Rubens variety, grown in Kent.

Over 150 varieties of apple were entered into the competition from orchards all over the country. Farming minister Jim Paice officially opened the event, and Adrian Barlow, CEO of English Apples and Pears, led the panel of five judges.

Michael Joyles, commercial director at marketing company Norman Collett, said, “It is an outstanding result to claim the first three places for this Kent grown fruit when the competition was so fierce. British apples are on a true resurgence in the UK and their quality makes each grower raise their game.

“To claim the first three places is an astounding achievement and reflects the quality of Kent and British apple growers,” says Mr Joyles.

Described as a dessert apple with hints of melon in the flavour, Rubens is grown using as few pesticides as possible. To reduce the food miles generated by importing the variety from Italy 140,000 trees were planted in orchards throughout Kent.