A crisp, sweet cross of Honeycrisp and Empire, the Orléans apple could give Quebec growers a local variety that keeps well and competes with imports.
Quebec’s new apple makes a case for local varieties
The Orléans apple has taken nearly a quarter-century to reach grocery shelves. Its arrival matters because it pairs two familiar varieties, Honeycrisp and Empire, while promising something growers say shoppers want: sweetness and a crisp bite that lasts.
The breeding work began in 2002, when producers selected pollen from Honeycrisp and Empire blossoms and crossbred the trees over many years. Orléans has been available at Quebec orchards for about two years; this fall marks its first appearance in grocery stores.
*After almost 25 years of development, the Orléans apple is reaching grocery shelves. Its producers hope it can eventually challenge Honeycrisp. (Sarah-Kate Dallaire/CBC)*
Karen Morin, co-owner of Verger du Roy in Portneuf, says customers are already asking for Orléans. Her orchard grows 57 apple varieties, and she’s seen this one attract more pickers this year. Morin calls the Honeycrisp-Empire combination “a bomb”: sweet, very crisp, and potentially a future favourite. She expects tastes to change across generations, but says lasting firmness is a consistent draw.
*Morin says Orléans has become more popular with orchard visitors over the past two years, though many shoppers still don’t know about newer varieties. (Sarah-Kate Dallaire/CBC)*
Benoit Caron, who owns La Maison de la Pomme, planted 20,000 Orléans trees at his Frelighsburg orchard about five years ago. He says the apple ranks near the top for firmness and sugar content. Its keeping quality could make it available for at least 10 months each year, and Caron sees a place for it both as a snack and in cooking: its slices hold together in custard or pie.
That shelf life may be as consequential as the flavour. A variety that can stay crisp and sell for much of the year gives Quebec producers a longer window to compete with imported apples.
Local demand meets a longer supply
New varieties give growers more ways to serve different tastes, says Jérôme-Antoine Brunelle, executive director of the Producteurs de pommes du Québec. He sees an opening to win market share from imports if shoppers can find and identify Quebec-grown apples in stores.
Brunelle says trade tensions and U.S. tariffs helped turn consumers’ attention toward locally sourced food. Interest in local apples has risen over the past two years and, he says, shows no sign of easing. That’s encouraging for producers, though the data in this account doesn’t establish how much of the stronger demand is due to tariffs or how long it will last.
*Brunelle says interest in locally sourced apples has grown over the past two years and “doesn't seem to be slowing down.” (Sarah-Kate Dallaire/CBC)*
The practical hurdle is visibility. Brunelle says producers and grocers need to label Quebec apples clearly in produce aisles if they want shoppers to choose them. Local interest only helps if customers can tell what’s grown nearby.
Different apples for eating and cider
For apple and cider author Claude Jolicoeur, the next opportunity is to develop more varieties for cider and, eventually, a regional cider designation. He compares the idea with Italian wine, where grape varieties and growing regions contribute to wines with distinct flavours. He believes that approach could take Quebec cider production further.
Morin says Quebec apples can carry flavours reminiscent of bananas, pineapples, strawberries and chestnuts. “You can compare apples with apples, but they’re different,” she says.
Cider fruit also has a different job from the apples displayed in a grocery store. Jolicoeur says a retail apple needs to look attractive; fruit pressed for cider doesn’t have to meet that visual standard. He hopes growers will plant more Quebec varieties in the years ahead.
For now, producers say several Quebec apples are available throughout the year, not just during fall harvest. Orléans is the newest example, and its test will be whether its taste, storage life and shelf space can turn early interest into a lasting market.
