EYE ON THE APPLES
Raphaella Frame-Tolmie speaks to Buks Nel, a developer of new apple cultivars, who is devoted to preserving the old-timers too
Although it’s less a job and more a fervent interest, it’s seldom you meet someone as excited about what they do as Buks Nel, the new cultivars developer for Tru-Cape. His focus is on apples, and he has planted a heritage orchard in Grabouw to help preserve the history of the apple varieties of old.
What’s your role in the apple industry? I was a technical manager, helping growers, so I have a soft spot for new stuff. New varieties are not the alpha and omega of apple-growing, but you have to keep on top of it.
Highlights of the job? I’ve been working in the orchards for 13 years and it’s so much fun. I travel a bit too, to make sure I know what’s going on in Europe and the US. There’s an annual get-together in the Dolomites in Italy, where people in new varieties come and exhibit their wares. We keep in touch — it’s like a brotherhood.
How did you become interested in apple farming? I studied entomology at Stellenbosch University, so I’m actually a “gogga” man. With that field of study, you can go into research or crop protection, and I chose the latter.
Why the interest in heritage apples? To know why the new is there, you have to know about the old. My friend and colleague Henk Griessel and I planted an old variety block from a gene bank to learn more about them. We wanted to define old varieties that were in the country before the 20th Century.
Why not heritage pears? Pears grow to be so old that most of the heritage varieties are still in existence.
What are the biggest differences between heritage and modern apples? Taste and looks. Especially looks. The old apples were knobbly and gnarled.
What are your favourite varieties for eating and cooking? For easy eating, I love Royal Gala. And for cooking, Granny Smith is best.