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Saving the Gravensteins
Posted on Thu, July 30, 2009 by Jerusha Klemperer
9 Comments | Categories: Biodiversity, Events, Farms and Farming,
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by Paula Shatkin, leader of Slow Food Russian River, coordinator of Sebastopol Gravenstein Apple Presidium Project
Of the hundreds of California apple varieties, the Sebastopol Gravenstein is one of the best—great fresh, great for pies, juice, vinegar, sauce, and brandy. It has a fine balance of sweet and tart, it’s crunchy, and it holds its shape when baked. This heirloom variety was brought to California around 1790 by the Russians. By the early 1900s thousands of Gravenstein orchards were the heart of a major industry in Sonoma County. Annual Gravenstein festivals, parades at apple blossom time, streets and schools named after the apple—all this has been part of the cultural heritage of the area. Now we are losing apple acreage at an alarming rate, primarily due to the much higher profitability of wine grapes.
Slow Food Russian River applied to the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity six years ago to make the Sebastopol Gravenstein the first Presidia in California, and one of only six Presidia projects in the US. Since then, a large, active group of volunteers—the “Apple Corpsԗhas worked with a growing number of local farmers to promote the Gravensteins, to increase demand, and to raise awareness of the importance of supporting local growers.
This year we are sponsoring a Gravenstein Season Kick-Off event at the Sebastopol Farmers market on August 2nd, where local chefs and bakers will offer tastes and samples, Slow Food members will press juice, and a local radio host will broadcast her show and interview Gravenstein apple farmers. Two weeks later, we will sponsor a booth at the annual Gravenstein Faire, August 15th and 16th in Sebastopol, and two local growers—who make juice, sauce, vinegar and other value added products—will share our booth and sell their products. We will give out literature, sell posters and bumper stickers, and sell fresh apples.
To add to the excitement, we have recruited close to 70 Bay Area restaurants that have all agreed to feature Gravenstein apples on their menus for the month of August, and place our posters and other literature in their windows. Our website will list each restaurant to help promote them to the community.
We welcome your interest, involvement, and questions. Email (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) us or visit our website.
To read recent coverage of the Gravenstein apple project, click here, and to watch it on TV, click here!
Member Comments
From Elizabeth Howe on Fri, July 31, 2009
The Grav apple presidium is doing great work. In support of the Gravenstein apple, Pacific Coast Farmers Market will be holding a Save the Gravenstein Event at the Inner Sunset Farmers Market on August 23rd. There will be info, one of Sebastopol’s finest Gravenstein growers, classes on preservation and awesome music….in addition to the usual bounty and splendor of the Inner Sunset Farmers Market. Come join us August 23rd, 9am-1pm at the market on 9th Ave and Irving St. in San Francisco!!!!
From arthrufang on Fri, July 31, 2009
From Larry Martin on Mon, August 03, 2009
I had the pleasure of working yesterday Russian River chapter’s Gravenstein booth at the at the Sebatopol Farm MarketRRSF, and was blown away by the interest and community support that I saw for our project. Congratulations to all the “Apple-Corers” for their greatt work and dedication! Larry Martin - Slow Food Governor for Northern California
From Condominiums Mississauga on Fri, August 07, 2009
Slow Food members will press juice, and a local radio host will broadcast her show and interview Gravenstein apple farmers.
regards
Condominiums Mississauga
From roxanne craddock on Fri, August 07, 2009
Watsonville is historically apple country, too. The Granvensteins are extra good this year, local growers represented in Farmer’s Markets and locally owned Supermarkets. Made our favorite Apple Pie yesterday with them,,,,,,,gone in less than 24 hours. Best for applesauce, fresh, canned or frozen.
From Steve Garner on Sat, August 08, 2009
Chef John Ash,a local Sonoma county culinary treasure and nationally known author/teacher,and I have hosted The KSRO Good Food Hour for 22 years. On August 15,for the 11th year,we broadcast from The Gravenstein Apple Fair -exploring the many delicious apple dishes created by John and other guest chefs at the Festival from 11:00am-Noon pst.On GardenTalk we feature local apple growers and producers plus take listener calls from 9:00am-11:00am on 1350-KSRO/Santa Rosa..We also stream the show live and the shows are archived on our KSRO website. We are strong supporters of the important work that the Russian River Slow Food Convivium is doing to preserve our beloved Gravenstein Apple…
From Jenny on Fri, August 14, 2009
Check out the August 9 article in the Press Democrat:
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090809/NEWS/908091056
From Kris on Tue, August 18, 2009
Thank for your work in preserving the Gravenstein apple. This apple is near and dear to my heart. It was the only apple our family used in pies and sauce. For the past 12 years I have been getting 120lbs from Lee and Shirley at Walker Apples. I can’t imagine a summer without Gravenstein apples. Keep up the good work.
Kris
From casey on Fri, August 21, 2009
For those not so close to CA, I have found that Eastmans antique apple orchard in michigan also grows Gravensteins along with 1400 other varieties.
