The same applies to most other crops. Writing about potatoes, Rose Prince says: “This is an area of horticulture where the lack of diversity is virtually criminal. Out of the 80 to 100 varieties, we grow five per cent commercially, namely Maris Piper, King Edward, Estima and Cara.

Variety is chosen by the retailers and processors (of chips and so on) when it was once the domain of growers. Potatoes with long keeping qualities are particular favourites with supermarkets. As a result, we have dull uniformity instead of exciting diversity. Organic growers have found that growing a greater variety prevents the spread of disease”.
Daily Telegraph 19 / 11 / 05

This is the crux of it, having a choice of a range of varieties of fruit, vegetables, and cereal varieties should not be considered a luxury, but a necessity. Different plants have inherent abilities to withstand pests or diseases, and if one variety succumbs, then others survive to provide food and an income. A mixture of varieties makes the grower is less vulnerable or reliant on pesticides.

In ‘Not on the Label’, Guardian consumer affairs correspondent, Felicity Lawrence explains the connection between the loss of variety and the increase in food miles: “..the need to transport produce long distances has skewed the market to varieties that will travel and keep well. Taste, texture and variety have been sacrificed to permanent global summer time. As has ripeness. Fruit that has to journey thousands of miles to reach us needs to be picked hard. Just one variety of strawberry, Elsanta, now dominates sales, accounting for three quarters of the strawberries on offer because it travels well and has a long shelf life.”

The Victorians perfected the art of growing apples making the utmost of seasonality by using and breeding varieties that can be eaten in succession through the season, from the earlies in July / August to the late keepers that can be stored for use until May.

Sustaining Variety:

Buy fresh local produce in season.

Exert your power as a consumer. If the variety of a fruit or vegetable is not displayed in a shop, then ask what it is.

Become a connoisseur of different tastes and flavours, the cooking and keeping qualities that each variety offers.

If a shop does not sell the varieties you want, always ask for them. This is how consumer demand can change growing patterns.

You are likely to find more and different varieties of fruit and veg in independent greengrocers and from farmers’ markets and farm shops. Riverford Organics grow the following potato varieties, only one of which will be regularly found in the shops: Junior, Accent, Charlotte, Cosmos, Cara, Claret, Raja and Valor. At farm shops and farmers’ markets we are able to talk with the growers, to ask questions about pesticide/herbicide use and so on.

The law relating to the sale of vegetable etc seeds is very complicated. Garden Organic (aka Ryton Organic Gardens / Henry Doubleday Research Assn) enables you to grow vegetable varieties that have fallen out of the commercial list, some are in danger of extinction. www . gardenorganic . org . uk +44(0)2476 308201.

If you are buying fruit trees for your garden, select some local varieties that are particular to your town or county – they should do well in your conditions, and will perpetuate the local distinctiveness of your area. Ask Common Ground for a list of nurseries that sell a wide range of fruit trees.

Visit our Orchards and Apple Day pages