I watch a lot of YouTube videos and one of the channels I subscribe to is Steven Hayes. I enjoy his videos and I’ve noticed that 90% of what he grows are apples no one ever talks about here in the US. And I’m wondering…
1, are their restrictions on imports that would prevent him from having access to our varieties? Or
2, does his tastes vary so much that he just doesn’t care for our common varieties? It sure seems like he grows a lot of old time varieties and he often talks about them being soft or good for cider. Seems like lots of Pippin and Cox varieties. I’ve unfortunately not had the pleasure of tasting any of the varieties he grows. I’m sure there are a lot of great ones. But from his descriptions they don’t really sound like apples that would pass my texture requirements.
I’ve never heard him mention apples like Gold Rush, Honeycrisp, etc. Are they just not his style or as mentioned can he even obtain them?
There are definitely restrictions on imports US to UK and vice versa, but not so from continental EU to UK. Or at least it seems that way since I know since he sends his scions out across the EU.
Whether or not there has been much interest in importing the PRI apples (Goldrush) etc. to the EU is another thing entirely. There are quite a few EU origin varieties that have been bred with the idea of disease resistance in mind. One place that sells some of those here is Grandpa’s Orchard (Moser). I’m not sure if even a variety like Goldrush would ripen in the UK or not. But if you are interested, you can see the difference between Orangepippintrees.co.uk versus Orangepippintrees.com (supplied by Cummins).
I can’t speak to his tastes, but it does seem from watching his videos that he prefers the “aromatic” varieties over the “vinous” varieties. To me Macintosh is the quintessential vinous apple. We Americans also have a lot of just “sweet” apples too, with (Red) Delicious and Ambrosia coming to mind there.
I think you are right they are just not his style. If I remember he comments on the difference in taste and texture preferences between America ( I assume he means Canada as well) and England. He did mention that crisp apples with lots of juice but weak in flavour are not his favourites.
The good news for us in the U.S. is that we have fairly good access to his U.K. varieties. He has help to convince me to try some of his including Margil, Winston and Irish Peach. I tasted my first Margil yesterday and it reminded me of Ribston Pippin. Irish Peaches are not for me as the have all dropped prematurely.
Stephen also sees it as a mission to protect the old local varieties. I think he grows Spartan, but I believe that is from Canada.