The apple auction of “Apples with Letterings and Designs” is held annually in November at Hiroka, Hirosaki Chuo Seika Co. Ltd., located in Hirosaki, Aomori.
It is completely different from the normal auction dealing with only “Apples with Letterings and Designs” gathered together as one. They are traded at high prices every year.
The varieties such as “Stark Jumbo” or “Mutsu” are used for this pouch cultivation. The apples are bagged to block out sunlight until the fruit becomes a certain size. Then the bags are taken out to receive sunlight to induce anthocyanin, the compound responsible for the red color. The areas blocked by stickers to prevent light remain the original color, highlighting letters and design images.
Of course, these apples are edible but they are mostly for display purposes to entertain people for the artistic merit.
*The auction is held only one day at the end of November. Visitors who are not affiliated with the facility must apply in advance and are not permitted to enter without authorization.
Apple University is a virtual university where you can learn many things about apples in a fun way.
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