# C_2023156EN.01002701.xml

| 3.5.2023 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 156/27 |
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3.5.2023

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 156/27

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Publication of an application for registration of a name pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2023/C 156/05)

This publication confers the right to oppose the application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) within three months from the date of this publication.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

’Szabolcsi alma'

EU No: PGI-HU-02852 — 22.6.2022

PDO ( ) PGI (X)

1.   Name(s) of PGI

’Szabolcsi alma'

2.   Member State or Third Country

Hungary

3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product

Class 1.6: Fruit, vegetables and cereals, fresh or processed

3.2.   Description of the product to which the name in (1) applies

The protected geographical indication ‘Szabolcsi alma’ may be used for apples for fresh consumption of the Gala, Jonathan, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Idared and Pinova varieties of the species Malus domestica and their variants (mutants/clones) grown in the defined geographical area with the quality characteristics specified below.

The qualitative characteristics of ‘Szabolcsi alma’ are as follows:

| — | they are sweetly acidic, with a refreshing taste and smell and crunchy flesh; |
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they are sweetly acidic, with a refreshing taste and smell and crunchy flesh;

| — | they have a high sugar content: at least 12 °Brix for Gala, Red Delicious and Idared, and at least 13 °Brix for Jonathan, Jonagold, Golden Delicious and Pinova, depending on the variety; |
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they have a high sugar content: at least 12 °Brix for Gala, Red Delicious and Idared, and at least 13 °Brix for Jonathan, Jonagold, Golden Delicious and Pinova, depending on the variety;

| — | they have a flesh firmness of at least 5,5 kg/cm2. |
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they have a flesh firmness of at least 5,5 kg/cm2.

The qualitative characteristics related to the size (shape, average weight, diameter) and skin colour, depending on the variety, are shown in the table:

| Variety | Size | Skin colour |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gala | Small, spherical or flattened
  Average weight: 150-170 g
  Diameter: 65-85 mm | The basic colour when ripe is yellowish with a washed red surface, with stripes on some variants. |
| Jonathan | Medium to small Conical-spherical, slightly ribbed, symmetrical
  Average weight: 120-130 g
  Diameter: 65-75 mm | The basic colour when ripe is yellowish green, with bright-red skin bearing broad, dark-red stripes. |
| Jonagold | Large, spherical or slightly conical, well balanced, minimally ribbed
  Average weight: 220-250 g
  Diameter: 70-90 mm | The basic colour is yellowish green and 40-60 % of the skin is light red/dark red. |
| Golden Delicious | Spherical or slightly elongated truncated cone-shaped
  Average weight: 140-180 g
  Diameter: 70-85 mm | The basic colour is greenish yellow, later yellow. |
| Red Delicious | Medium large or large, elongated, ribbed above the sepal
  Average weight: 150-170 g
  Diameter: 70-90 mm | The basic colour is washed with dark red, striped, and the whole lightly striped surface is a shiny deep red. |
| Idared | Medium to large, flattened sphere-shaped and finely ribbed
  Average weight: 170-220 g
  Diameter: 70-95 mm | Its basic colour is bright red and it has a washed skin. |
| Pinova | Medium, slightly elongated, cone-shaped
  Average weight: 150-180 g
  Diameter: 65-85 mm | The basic colour is yellow, with more than half the surface covered or striped with a characteristic vermilion colour. |

Variety

Size

Skin colour

Gala

Small, spherical or flattened

Average weight: 150-170 g

Diameter: 65-85 mm

The basic colour when ripe is yellowish with a washed red surface, with stripes on some variants.

Jonathan

Medium to small Conical-spherical, slightly ribbed, symmetrical

Average weight: 120-130 g

Diameter: 65-75 mm

The basic colour when ripe is yellowish green, with bright-red skin bearing broad, dark-red stripes.

Jonagold

Large, spherical or slightly conical, well balanced, minimally ribbed

Average weight: 220-250 g

Diameter: 70-90 mm

The basic colour is yellowish green and 40-60 % of the skin is light red/dark red.

Golden Delicious

Spherical or slightly elongated truncated cone-shaped

Average weight: 140-180 g

Diameter: 70-85 mm

The basic colour is greenish yellow, later yellow.

Red Delicious

Medium large or large, elongated, ribbed above the sepal

Average weight: 150-170 g

Diameter: 70-90 mm

The basic colour is washed with dark red, striped, and the whole lightly striped surface is a shiny deep red.

Idared

Medium to large, flattened sphere-shaped and finely ribbed

Average weight: 170-220 g

Diameter: 70-95 mm

Its basic colour is bright red and it has a washed skin.

Pinova

Medium, slightly elongated, cone-shaped

Average weight: 150-180 g

Diameter: 65-85 mm

The basic colour is yellow, with more than half the surface covered or striped with a characteristic vermilion colour.

3.3.   Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

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3.4.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

‘Szabolcsi alma’ may be cultivated and harvested only in the geographical area specified in point 4.

3.5.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

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3.6.   Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

The PGI ‘Szabolcsi alma’ must appear in characters larger than those of any other inscription on the package label.

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

‘Szabolcsi alma’ is cultivated and harvested within the administrative boundaries of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County.

5.   Link with the geographical area

The link between ‘Szabolcsi alma’ and the geographical area is based on quality.

‘Szabolcsi alma’ can be differentiated from other apples on the basis of the specific characteristics set out in point 3.2.

The specific characteristics of ‘Szabolcsi alma’ set out in point 3.2 are the result of the close connection between the geographical area, the favourable soil and climatic conditions of the production area and the considerable expertise of the apple growers.

The soil conditions of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County are excellent for apple production. The soil and topographical-climatic conditions of the natural geographical areas of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County have made it possible for apple and other fruit species native to temperate climates to be grown in an economically viable way in the county (Pethő, 2005).

Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County has the second largest alluvial plain in Hungary, which rises to a height of 20 to 50 metres from the Transtisza floodplain. The humus content – around 2 % – and high calcium content of the chernozem soil which developed on the sandy loess soil on the flat parts of the alluvial plain, together with the light silt soil laid down by tributaries of the Tisza, are favourable for the planting of apple trees.

The number of hours of sunshine is between 1 950 and 2 050, which is some 300-400 hours more than in countries to the west and north of Hungary. The county’s climatic conditions are therefore favourable to apple production. In addition to sunshine, its climate is also influenced by oceanic, continental and Mediterranean air masses. As a result, at times an oceanic and at other times a continental climate influence is dominant.

The growing season in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County starts 6-8 days later than in other counties in Hungary. Summers are moderately warm, with an average July temperature of 20-23 °C. In the autumn months, the daily average temperature is 1-2 °C lower than in the rest of the country due to higher night radiation, allowing the maturation process to be slowed down.

The internal qualities and enjoyment value of ‘Szabolcsi alma’ are determined primarily by environmental factors during ripening: temperature, sunlight and early morning moisture. The relative humidity of the air is around 75 % during the summer months. The higher relative humidity in September has an extremely beneficial effect on the colouring of the fruit and the pace of ripening. The ripening process of ‘Szabolcsi alma’ is therefore slower and more of the various nutrients are incorporated into the fruit. As a result, ‘Szabolcsi alma’ has a high sugar content: at least 12 °Brix for Gala, Red Delicious and Idared, and at least 13 °Brix for Jonathan, Jonagold, Golden Delicious and Pinova, depending on the variety. It is the high sugar content which gives ‘Szabolcsi alma’ its sweetly acidic character.

In September the warm days, high relative humidity and night cooling together with early morning dew formation contribute significantly to the vibrant colouring of ‘Szabolcsi alma’ and to the development of high acidity and aromas, resulting in a sweetly acidic flavour.

The high calcium content of the soil means that the flesh of the fruit also has a higher calcium content, resulting in the crunchy flesh and firmness of at least 5,5 kg/cm2 of ‘Szabolcsi alma’.

In addition to having an ideal production area, growers in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County benefit from expertise stemming from experience accumulated over centuries, which has a positive impact on the production of ‘Szabolcsi alma’. Expertise in the production of ‘Szabolcsi alma’ is passed down from generation to generation in the defined geographical area.

Crucial to the characteristics set out in point 3.2 is the up-to-date knowledge of producers in terms of varieties, the use of certified propagating material and apple cultivation. The Újfehértó Research Station of the Fruit and Ornamental Plant Cultivation Research Institute has supported this for over 70 years with variety maintenance, the production of certified propagating material and the provision of expert advice. The research station works on research into the ‘Szabolcsi alma’ production area, the registration of fruit trees, the cultivation and physiological study of apple varieties, and the development of varietal certification methods.

Fruit production has a centuries-old tradition in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County thanks to the beneficial soil and climatic conditions. This is attested to in the works of the famous Ottoman traveller, Evliya Çelebi, who wrote in his volumes describing his travels in Hungary between 1660 and 1666 about the richness of the orchards in Szabolcs, the wealth of the growers and the extremely flavourful fruit. He also describes the production of such an abundance of fruit in the area that it provided ample sustenance for the invading Ottoman armies.

After the Second World War, a large plantation scheme was launched, resulting in the creation of almost 50 % of the country’s apple plantations in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County, which account for more than half of the national output.

The reputation of Hungarian apple cultivation was founded on ‘Szabolcsi alma’. The name ‘Szabolcsi alma’ has come to denote a high-quality brand. (T. Szabó – Zs. Csoma 2001).

Reference to publication of the specification

https://gi.kormany.hu/foldrajzi-arujelzok

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(1)  OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.

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