Enterprise
Why you should be excited
Enterprise is a hum-dinger of a fresh eating apple that tastes even better months after harvest.
The story of Enterprise
We’re not fans of tired old apples offered up months after their prime. Nor are we keen on the environmental cost of shipping fresh apples from across the world for us to eat in winter and spring.
The good news is that we need not choose between mealy old apples and dastardly imports: Enterprise is one reason why.
Here’s an apple that keeps – when refrigerated – for a good six months, actually improving in eating quality over time in storage. It’s a pretty red apple that’s crisp and delicious. And a tree that favours organic growing as a result of its natural disease resistance.
So it’s easy for us to encourage you to say ‘no’ to imports by saying ‘yes’ to outstanding local organic apples like Enterprise.
We intended for Enterprise to be a significant part of our orchard from the start of planning back in 2010. However, it took a very long time for us to find even one stick of wood to graft it and once we did, the two tiny twigs of trees that resulted languished in our orchard for several years, struggles that were exaggerated by regular assaults by the rabbits.
The result: well over a decade after we started our orchard, we’re still waiting for our first Enterprise apple. Here’s hoping it’s worth the wait!
Enterprise Facts
Its origins
Bred in Indiana, USA; 1992 introduction.
Flavour, aroma, texture
Firm, crisp, rich, juicy, sub-acid, even better after time in storage.
Appearance
Very attractive, medium to large, with a full red skin colour.
When they’re available
Late season (in our orchard, we expect early October).
Quality for fresh eating
Excellent.
Quality for cooking
Mainly used for fresh eating.
Quality for cider
Ditto.
Keeping ability
Excellent (up to 6 months when kept refrigerated).