423:  Apple Id 101 w/John Bunker

423: Apple Id 101 w/John Bunker

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist August 21, 2024 Duration: 1:07:05

In Episode 423 of Cider Chat, we delve into the fascinating world of apple identification a.k.a. Apple Id with the one and only John Bunker, a renowned author and the c0-founder of FEDCO Trees, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardners Association (MOFGA). Hear as he shares his lifelong passion for tracking down historic apple varieties and teaching others how to preserve these treasures is truly inspiring.

This presentation is part one of a two-part series on Apple ID recorded at CiderCon2024.

Cider Chat Episode 423 John Bunker protrait Apple Identification 101
John Bunker portrait by John Alsop of Cornville, ME

Hear John Bunker walking us through the intricacies of apple identification, reminding us that it's not just about identifying a fruit — it's about preserving history. For orchardists and cider makers, understanding the varieties in your care is a crucial part of maintaining the integrity of your orchard and the quality of your cider apples.

00:00 Introduction to Cider Chat and Apple Mysteries

01:37 John Bunker's Apple Identification Journey

04:11 The Importance of Apple Identification

10:11 Understanding Apple Trees and Grafting

21:39 Resources for Apple Identification

25:37 DNA Profiling and Apple Identification

30:12 Practical Apple Identification Scenarios

33:40 Mentors and the Black Oxford Apple

34:39 DNA Profiling and Apple Identification

37:06 The Mystery of the Canadian Strawberry

38:52 The Hunt for Lost Apples

41:36 Identifying Seedlings and Grafted Trees

45:49 Commercial Orchards and Misidentified Apples

48:47 The Role of Historical Records in Apple Identification

53:26 The Fun and Challenges of Apple Hunting

58:05 Becoming an Apple Detective

01:04:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

 

Contact for John Bunker


There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
327: Variety Tips from the  Quince Queen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:39
Orchards can be as small as 2, 5 or 10 trees. Get tips on how to manage a small scale orchard at CiderDays 2.0 with John Bunker on November 5th at 9am. Get updates and ticket information by following Cider Chat and signi…
326: Orchards & People | Stories in Ciderville [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:00
Orchards can be as small as 2, 5 or 10 trees. Get tips on how to manage a small scale orchard at CiderDays 2.0 with John Bunker on November 5th at 9am. Get updates and ticket information by following Cider Chat and signi…
325: Mouthwatering Alma Cider | Washington [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:16
CiderDays 2.0 November 4th and 5th, 2022 - Greenfield, MA tickets for live August 1, 2022 Sign up for Cider Chat's eNews to get updates on CiderDays 2.0 Getting to Alma An affection to snow brought Dave Klawer to Washing…
324: Šraml Cutting-Edge Cider & Wine Tools | Slovenia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:12
Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Cha…
323: Kazakhstan has Cider at last | Apple City Cider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:24
Apples started their world tour from Kazakhstan but… It is inconceivable, but true that in the home land, the epicenter, the frick'n ground zero of all apples globally there is no history of cidermaking in Kazakhstan. We…
322: The Celebrated Poiré & Calvados of Pacory | FR [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:11
The Pacory Family at Grimaux in Domfrontais Began in 1939 when Marcel Pacory bought 20 hectres of land with what was called a forest of apple and pears trees. Marcel had three sons Paul, Claude & Marcel and three daughte…
321: Cider Styles with Eric Bordelet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:08
French Cider Tour with Eric Bordelet Reservations for the Normandy and Brittany Cider Tour have been extended to June 15, 2022. Find the trip itinerary and reservation link at https://ciderchat.com/france-cider-tour At t…
320: Musée du Cidre at Cidre Prié | Brittany, FR [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:40
The September 2022 French Cider Tour will visit the Musée du Cidre and Ciderie Prié. Find out more at the info page Karine Prié The History of the Musée du Cidre Jean-Yves Prié (1948-2021) and wife Janine founded the Mus…
319: Arnaud Jouny's Cidre, Poire & Chouchen | Brittany, FR [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:20
Bretagne's Domaine Jouny In 1997 Arnaud Jouny was a professional bee keeper. In 2014 he built the current building where he both makes cidre and poire and also distills. He also makes a local product known as Chouchen. A…
318: Manoir de Montreuil | 13 Generations in Cider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:24
Domaine du Manoir de Montreuil with Patrice Giard In this episode: Patrice Giard recorded during the Totally Cider Tour to Normandy France in September 2018. The upcoming 2022 French Cider Tour will be making a stop at t…