Product – Giropoma

Pink Lady, the apple on the table and in social initiatives

A striking red apple with a name that makes it seem sweet without even having tasted it, but that brings you closer to what this variety has to offer. The Pink Lady stands out for its bicolour tone between reddish pink and pale green. It is one of the apples that Giropoma has been selling for a long time and this year, it has started to be harvested and sold this November.

Of Australian origin, it was born in 1973 when the researcher John Cripps made a natural cross between two varieties of apple: Golden Delicious and Lady Williams. It was in 1994-1995 when the first trees were planted in Europe, specifically in France, and this new variety crossed the continent. In 1997, nursery owners, growers and distributors joined forces to create the Pink Lady® Europe association, and in 1998-1999, Spanish and Italian growers joined the Pink Lady® adventure.

The harvest of the Pink Lady is one of those that starts later, between the end of October and the beginning of November, because the fruit needs time to acquire maturity and the desired colour, characteristics that it achieves in the last weeks of ripening on the tree.

It is an ideal apple for eating fresh, making juices and is widely used in salads and to accompany meat and fish, due to its flavour which manages to combine sweetness with acidity in a very balanced way, as well as being comforting and refreshing. The variety, with a thin skin and a very aromatic burnt-coloured flesh, has a crunchy and juicy texture. It also contains natural fibre that helps to improve intestinal traffic, is antioxidant, provides vitamin C and contains 80% water.

In addition, it is a fruit with a transversal function as it has a high social commitment. Not only does it satisfy its consumers at the table, but in 2016 the Pink Lady Foundation was created to support business projects run by women. And it doesn’t stop there: in 2020, the variety launched its charter of commitments, which integrates the three pillars of sustainable development (environmental, social and economic issues).

Along these lines, several solidarity initiatives have also been organised, such as the “Sponsor a tree “ day, during which an outing was organised to one of Giropoma ”s fields with the aim of bringing the world of agriculture closer to the people, being absolutely transparent throughout the chain and generating a meeting point between consumers.

It should be emphasised that Pink Lady is a successful variety developed under the Club umbrella, which means that it has to comply with specific quality standards and is marketed by a limited number of producers, of which Giropoma is a member, following specific practices and committed to the environment. In this sense, it follows Giropoma ‘s mission, which is to offer healthy, high quality apples, always following the values that define the company: the defence of the territory and the rural environment, respect for the environment, proximity, commitment and a commitment to people.

La Granny Smith, the bakery apple

The Granny Smith variety first emerged in Australia in 1868 after Grandmother Smith (Maria Anna Smith Sherwood) created the first artificial grafting by crossing two species. The story said that the apple originated by a stream near her farm from the remains of several wild apples that Maria Ann had composted. Although its creator died, local farmers continued the cultivation and today it is one of the most appreciated by consumers.

The Granny Smith is a deep green apple, which may have very marked whitish lenticels. It is very round, with a whitish flesh, a very crunchy texture, not very sweet, juicy and with a very characteristic acid taste . It is an ideal variety to eat fresh and to prepare salads and pastries, because it takes longer to oxidise than other apples. It is a very versatile variety that can be eaten raw or cooked and is very famous for being one of the most used for apple pie and confectionery products such as apple compote, as it is used to compensate with its acidity the sweetness of sugar. The sour apple helps to prevent the final product from being too sweet and, in addition, this variety manages to keep its shape when baked. In this sense, although there are many types of apples, some have a better texture to be used in salads and others have an optimal consistency to be boiled or baked, as they need to have a firm flesh and a sweet and sour taste. Granny Smith is a favourite for these cases because it does not lose its aroma or its succulence.

Apples are high in vitamins and minerals such as potassium, phosphorus and calcium. In short, they provide a high quantity of healthy qualities. The optimum harvest time for this variety is in October and it can be found until the end of June. It is one of the varieties that Giropoma produces and markets. Along with the Gala, Golden and Red Delicious, the Granny Smith receives the internationally recognised Protected Geographical Indication Manzana de Girona seal, which differentiates the product and is a guarantee of quality and a link with the territory.

The company works to defend the territory and the rural environment, respect for the environment, proximity, commitment and commitment to people and its mission is to offer healthy, high quality apples. In addition to Granny Smith, 7 other varieties of apples are produced and marketed: Golden, Fuji, Pink Lady® (Cripps Pink variety), Red Delicious, Royal Gala, Candine® (Regalyou variety) and Joya® (Cripps Red variety).

La Gala, a much-loved apple

The Gala variety was first discovered in New Zealand in 1939. Its ability to adapt to climatic conditions and its resistance to disease make it a very attractive option for growers and consumers around the world. It is a highly appreciated summer apple that has captivated the palate of everyone who has tasted it, especially the one from Girona, with ideal characteristics thanks to its proximity to the sea.

The Gala is a red striated apple on a creamy yellow background. It has an attractive skin, rounded shape and white flesh. It is crunchy, sweet and has an acid point that gives it a very good taste balance. Its optimum harvest time is August and it can be found until March.

Its tree is tall, vigorous, vigorous, with a quick entry into production and very resistant to frost. It is Giropoma’s earliest apple and is characterized by a very good response to cold storage, which allows to provide the necessary cold and suitable atmospheric conditions to the apples, to delay their ripening process and to guarantee their quality throughout the year.

This is one of the varieties that Giropoma produces and markets under the umbrella of the Protected Geographical Indication Poma de Girona, a seal of international recognition, product differentiation, evidence of quality and link with the territory.

It is an ideal apple for fresh consumption and for various culinary applications, such as jams, pies, salads and sauces.

Apples are an essential part of a healthy and balanced diet. They help prevent cardiovascular problems and inflammatory diseases, as well as helping to digest the fats we consume, provide a large amount of fiber that helps the digestive system to function properly, are rich in vitamins and minerals and have antioxidant properties.

Intense and bright red, this is Red Delicious

Red Delicious is an apple native to the United States, a very popular variety in many markets thanks to its attractive appearance and its adaptability to cultivation in various regions. Its intense, bright red color and size make it a very interesting choice for growers and consumers everywhere.

It is known for its bright red color on almost the entire surface, as well as the large caliber that characterizes it. Its flesh is whitish, juicy, sweet tasting and very aromatic. It is mainly consumed raw and is also used to make fruit salads and salads. It is harvested at the beginning of September and can be found until the end of July.

It is a variety that adapts easily to various climatic conditions and grows in very well-drained and fertile soils. The location of the company’s producer-partners’ fields, with soils with fluvial materials and good drainage and the Mediterranean climate, allow for unique and high-quality apples.

This is one of the varieties that Giropoma produces and markets under the umbrella of the Protected Geographical Indication Poma de Girona, together with Gala, Golden and Granny Smith. This is a seal of international recognition, product differentiation, quality assurance and link with the territory.

At Giropoma we work to offer healthy and high-quality apples, always following the values that define us: the defense of the territory and the rural environment, respect for the environment, proximity, commitment and commitment to people. We are committed to local, fresh and seasonal products to encourage a healthier and more sustainable diet.

In addition to Red Delicious, we produce and market 7 other varieties of apples, which you can discover on our website: Golden, Granny Smith, Pink Lady® (Cripps Pink variety), Fuji, Royal Gala, Candine® (Regalyou variety) and Joya® (Cripps Red variety).

Giropoma forecasts a very good harvest

In February 2024, the Government declared the emergency state of drought of the Ter – Llobregat System, when the reserves were below 100 hm³ of its capacity. In May 2024, the level of reserves in the reservoirs recovered to 24.8% with 154 hm³, going from emergency status to exceptional status, with a growing trend due to floods and thawing.

While continuing to be a year marked by drought, Giropoma expects an increase in the harvest compared to the previous year.

This increase is due, in part, to the weather, which has played a crucial role in this year’s harvest. The favorable weather conditions have clustered the blooms, favoring the fruit size and a good cellular multiplication, which will be reflected in good size and shape buds. Despite initial concerns about the drought, it has not been a major constraint to fruit production.

In all, for some time now, Giropoma has been carrying out an efficient water management by using the watering system based on silt humidity sensors, a monitoring of the silt based on probes that measure the volumetric water content in the silt, and depending on this volume, it is known how much water is available.

The rainfalls of the last weeks have allowed an important water reserve and have favored the growth of the plants, arriving at the beginning of the harvest with good expectations.

All this makes it possible that Giropoma expects a very good quality of grapes, in terms of a good fermentation and an excellent content in sugars.

We hope that these positive forecasts will be maintained until the end of the harvest season, thus guaranteeing an abundant and quality production.

About Giropoma’s varieties

Giropoma currently markets 8 different varieties of pomes. The Gala, Golden, Red Delicious and Granny Smith varieties, which are under the PGI Poma de Girona, the Fuji and the club varieties, the Regalyou marketed under the Candine® brand, the Cripps Pink marketed under the Pink Lady® brand and the Cripps Red marketed under the Joya® brand.

All of them are essential to maintain a balanced and healthy diet, as they are highly moisturizing, contain vitamins and minerals, have antioxidant properties, promote the proper functioning of the digestive system thanks to the fiber they contain and help prevent cardiovascular problems and inflammatory diseases.

We hope that these positive forecasts will be maintained until the end of the harvest season, thus guaranteeing an abundant and quality production.

Fuji, a crunchy and juicy autumn apple

The Fuji apple is a variety originating from Japan, and since its discovery, it has been gaining popularity to become one of the most produced and consumed apples everywhere thanks to its organoleptic qualities, i.e. properties that can be perceived by the sense organs.

Fuji is a light red apple on a green-yellow background that stands out for its crunchy and juicy texture. These intrinsic characteristics make it very attractive and appetizing. Its dense and aromatic cream-colored flesh and very sweet flavor, taste characteristics that satisfy most people who eat it. It is harvested during the month of October and can be found until the end of June.

Preferably, it is best consumed fresh, but it is also widely used for baking. It is the perfect choice for inclusion in countless culinary creations thanks to its natural sweetness. Its firmness and ability to maintain its shape during cooking make it ideal for baking, as it does not fall apart easily. In addition, its juiciness adds moisture and flavor to baked goods, such as cakes and muffins.

It provides a large amount of fiber that helps the digestive system to function properly. It is rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin C, which strengthen the immune system, and is low in calories and saturated fats. A natural and healthy option to maintain a balanced and nutritious diet.

A tasty, succulent and very pleasant apple, a pleasure for the palate of many consumers.

Giropoma’s mission is to offer healthy and high-quality apples, always following the values that define our company: the defense of the territory and the rural environment, respect for the environment, proximity, commitment and commitment to people. In addition to Fuji, we produce and market 7 other varieties of apples, which you can discover on our website: Golden, Granny Smith, Pink Lady® (Cripps Pink variety), Red Delicious, Royal Gala, Candine® (Regalyou variety) and Joya® (Cripps Red variety).

Fresh, intense and versatile, that’s Joya®

In the world of fruit, few things rival the juiciness and taste of a good apple. And when it comes to an exceptional apple, Joya® stands out as one of the most desirable varieties for its taste balance, crisp texture and vibrant red color. It is the result of decades of careful cultivation and selection, which has resulted in a superior quality fruit that attracts apple lovers around the world.

La Joya® is the registered trademark and trade name for the Cripps Red variety. It is a variety developed under the Club umbrella, which means that it has to meet high quality and packaging standards, it is produced and marketed by a limited number of growers and distributors, of which Giropoma is part, and it has to follow specific and environmentally committed practices.

One of the most distinctive characteristics of Joya® is its intense red color on a yellowish-green background. It stands out for its sweetness and its powerful acidic touch, making it the ideal combination for consumption in good weather. A firm, crunchy and juicy apple that is harvested between November and December and can be found until the end of July.

Its properties and attributes make it a perfect choice both for fresh food and for inclusion in countless recipes, from salads, to accompany meat and fish, to desserts.

It provides water, minerals and vitamin C that your body needs to face the day with energy, an essential option for a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet.

The Pink Lady®, a successful variety developed under the Club formula

The Pink Lady® apple was born in 1973 in Australia, and it was not until 1994 – 1995 that the first trees of this variety were planted in Europe, more precisely in France. In 1997, nursery owners, growers and distributors joined forces to create the Pink Lady® Europe association, and in 1998-1999, Spanish and Italian growers joined the Pink Lady® adventure.

Pink Lady® is the trade name and registered trademark of the Cripps Pink variety, a variety that has been developed under the Club umbrella, which means that it must meet specific quality and packaging standards, is produced and marketed by a limited number of growers and distributors, of which Giropoma is a member, and has to follow specific practices committed to the environment.

The Pink Lady® is an apple that stands out for its bicolor tone between reddish pink and pale green. It has a thin skin and a very aromatic cream-colored flesh, with a crunchy and juicy texture and a medium to large size. In terms of flavor, it combines very balanced sweetness with acidity. Its development is fast, especially with strong thermal differentials between day and night, and its optimum harvest time is November.

It is an ideal apple for eating fresh, making juices and is widely used in salads and to accompany meat and fish.

Golden, one of the most appreciated apples by consumers

According to the Report on Food Consumption in Spain 2022 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), apples are one of the most consumed fresh fruits in Spain, ranking among the five major apple-producing countries in the EU-27. As for Catalan production, most of the total production of table apples is produced in Catalonia, with Lleida and Girona being the main production regions, followed by Tarragona and Barcelona (MAPA, 2023).

As for the Golden, it is one of the most cultivated varieties worldwide, due to its quality characteristics and its ability to adapt to any kind of soil, as well as its good cold storage.

The Golden is a smooth-skinned, greenish-yellow apple with a slight golden hue, round in shape and medium to large in size. Its texture is crunchy, juicy and smooth, and its flesh is white and consistent. It is characterized by a high sugar content and low acid content, and is very aromatic. Its optimum harvest time is in early September, and it can be found throughout the year, since it stands out for its good preservation.

Golden is one of the varieties that Giropoma produces and markets under the umbrella of the Protected Geographical Indication Poma de Girona, a seal of international recognition, product differentiation, evidence of quality and link to the territory.

It is an ideal apple to eat fresh, to make juices and cakes or to add to salads, and it is also a very good choice for baking.

Candine, the new apple that Giropoma has started to commercialize

This March, Giropoma has launched the commercialization of Candine. This apple originates from France and is the result of a cross between the Fuji and Ariane varieties.

A sweet, aromatic and fresh apple, it is characterized by its slightly flattened shape, smooth and shiny red skin with yellowish-green areas. It reaches maturity at the end of September, and keeps until June, as it is a variety that keeps very well.

Its organoleptic qualities have nothing to envy to other varieties. It has a crunchy and juicy texture, a high sugar level that mixed with a moderate acidity creates a refreshing and balanced flavor. Candine is an apple that is very well accepted in the market, thanks to its characteristics, which contribute to the desire to eat it again.

This is the first year that the company is marketing it, with the aim of consolidating it over the years. It will be available in different formats; single-layer boxes, trays of 4 or 6 pieces and bags.

In addition to Regalyou marketed under the Candine®, the apple trading company also produces other varieties such as Gala, Golden, Red Delicious and Granny Smith varieties, which are under the umbrella of the PGI Apple of Girona, the Fuji and the club varieties, the Cripps Pink marketed under the Pink Lady® brand and the Cripps Red marketed under the Joya® brand, as well as organic apple, identified as GiroBio. Each with its own characteristics, apples are an indispensable part of a natural and healthy diet, and are balanced and nutritious.