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
209: CiderCon2020 Insider Tips [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:25
The 10th Annual American Cider Association trade conference CiderCon will be held in Oakland California, January 28th through to January 31, 2020. This episode provides an overview on the following topics: Oakland weathe…
208: Calvados and Apple Brandy Tasting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:15
The tables are set with 6 stemmed glasses per person, each holding a tasting of Calvados or American Apple Brandy. There are over 60 settings. It is a sold out night. At 6:30 pm, the house lights are lowered and it is re…
207: Redfield Cider Bar and Bottle Shop | Oakland, CA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:27
Redfield Cider Bar and Bottle Shop is located in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland California. Owners Olivia Maki and Mike Reis opened the doors to patrons in January of 2019. Olivia Maki and Mike Reis of Redfield Ci…
206: Oakland's Crooked City Cider | CA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:24
Crooked City Cider Tap House is located in the Jack London Square area of Oakland California. A mere stone's throw away in the Square you can take the fast speed ferry to San Francisco and other nearby ferry hops, making…
205: City Cidermakers at Duckchicken | London [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:01
Duckchicken makers Colleen O'Sullivan and James Mann are based in South London. Colleen is a certified Arborist and works as a Tree Officer in London and James works in "Knowledge" at a law office in London. Duckchickens…
204: Steve Selin |South Hill Cider, NY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:34
Every Tuesday, when Steve was growing up, his Dad would be out that evening drinking cider with friends at the Cider Cellar, at the farm outside of Buffalo. That memory is his first on cider. Years later this professiona…
203: The Business of Cider | FLX Cider House, NY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:11
Good Life Farm was started in 2008. On this same spot of land overlooking Cayuga Lake after the barn was built, the Finger Lakes Cider House opened 6 years later in 2014. Both the farm and the Tasting Room and Cidery wer…
202: Walkabout at Redbyrd Orchard | NY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:28
"Everything about cider started for me in this old orchard, up the road." Says Eric. That abandoned orchard which first inspired Eric isn't there anymore, but he recalls the wild seedling trees that were growing in the h…
201: Ian Merwin PhD | Black Diamond Cider, NY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:58
Where does a Cornell University Pomologist do upon retirement? They start a cidery, of course! Ian Merwin says, founding Black Diamond Cider, in Trumansburg, New York is his 4th career. He has lived in California, Chile,…
200 Cheers for #ciderGoingUP [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:50
#ciderGoingUP is a favored hashtag that I have been using since the first year of this podcast, so it was a natural title for this milestone episode number 200. Some podcasters pod fade (end their shows quietly and never…