Cultivar 370: Norkent

Norkent is a prairie apple from the cross Haralson x Rescue, developed by C. R. Ure for the Prairie Fruit Breeding Cooperative.[S2] Sources connect it to the Agriculture Canada Research Station at Morden, Manitoba, where it was selected as P.A. 13, later tested as PF51, and then moved into wider prairie testing and commerce through Beaverlodge.[S2] It is noted as a hardy dessert and cooking apple with unusually crisp texture and better keeping quality than many early prairie apples.[S2][S9]

The main origin account says Norkent was released by the Morden station in 1974, while a longer cultivar note says Beaverlodge introduced it for commerce in 1990.[S2] A later prairie directory gives a shorter and less certain note and calls it a possible Beaverlodge introduction around 1991.[S1] This appears more likely to reflect a later introduction or distribution date than the original breeding date, but the sources do not state the timeline the same way.[S1][S2]

Sources describe the fruit as medium large, about 6 to 7 cm across, round to oblong, with a light green to pale yellow ground color and red streaking or wash on exposed surfaces.[S2][S9] The flesh is greenish to greenish white, juicy, sweet, aromatic, and very crisp. One source notes a pleasant nutty flavor, and another compares the taste to Golden Delicious.[S2][S9] It ripens in mid to late August.[S2][S9] Norkent is described as excellent for dessert use, very good to excellent for fresh eating, good for cooking, and good for juice.[S2][S9] Storage is one of its stronger traits. Sources say three months or more, about 14 weeks, or simply that it stores well, though flavor declines near the end of storage.[S2][S9]

The tree is described as rounded, strongly built, and moderately vigorous to exceptionally vigorous.[S2] It is reported hardy to zone 2b, and a Manitoba guide places it among apple varieties worth trying in northern Manitoba in a zone 2 context.[S2][S9] The same profile calls it moderately resistant to fire blight but susceptible to cankers.[S2] One management note is repeated clearly: the fruit should not be picked early, because it must mature fully to develop full flavor.[S2]

Norkent also made a strong impression in later tasting work. University of Saskatchewan sensory tables from 2001 through 2004 regularly place it in the good range, and shortly after harvest in 2004 it scored 18.2, with especially strong texture scores.[S3][S5][S6][S7][S8] One cultivar note adds an unresolved historical detail by saying that Norkent and Norda sold on the market were nearly or entirely identical, possibly because of a mix up in the original material sent for testing.[S2]

Summary source basis

• S1: Edible Apples in Prairie Canada
• S2: Norkent
• S3: Sensory Results on Apples 2004
• S4: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF APPLE SELECTIONS AND CULTIVARS
• S5: APPLE SENSORY SCORES FALL 2001
• S6: Apple Sensory Results 2002
• S7: Apple Sens 2002 Long Stor
• S8: APPLE SENSORY RESUSTS 2003

This summary currently draws chiefly from Norkent, with 5 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“Originated at the Morden Research Station, selected as P. A. 13 by the University of Alberta, tested as PF51, and introduced for commerce by the Beaverlodge Research Station in 1990.”
— ^[4]

“Possible Beaverlodge introduction circa 1991.”
— ^[2]

“Fruit is round to oblong with a very small shallow lipped and russeted cavity, a small shallow basin, prominent lenticels near the basin, moderately thick skin, and may be entirely russeted.”
— ^[4]

“Referenced to Davidson.”
— ^[2]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• Lineage given as Haralson x Rescue.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• Norkent – red over pale yellow fruit – ripens mid to late August – taste similar to Golden Delicious apple – good for cooking – stores wellFruit Crops for Northern Manitoba, p13
• Norkent – red over pale yellow fruit – ripens mid to late August – taste similar to Golden Delicious apple – good for cooking – stores wellFruit Crops for Northern Manitoba, p13
• Norkent – red over pale yellow fruit – ripens mid to late August – taste similar to Golden Delicious apple – good for cooking – stores wellFruit Crops for Northern Manitoba, p13
• Norkent – red over pale yellow fruit – ripens mid to late August – taste similar to Golden Delicious apple – good for cooking – stores wellFruit Crops for Northern Manitoba, p13

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context