In the Cherkasy region of Ukraine, a farmer is cultivating heart-shaped apples which are becoming increasingly popular, especially in February, when Valentine's Day is celebrated.
The initial trial in 2017 yielded just two dozen heart-shaped apples. Encouraged by the success, production expanded to 100, then 200, and now nearly two thousand apples are shaped annually into symbols of love, said Volodymyr Bardyk, the farm's agronomist.
The farm grows varieties like "Golden Delicious," "Gala," "Champion," and "Simirenko" on 15 hectares. To achieve the heart shape, special molds are placed on the apples in July. Bardyk mentioned that these apples go through fewer chemical treatments than regular ones. Harvesting them requires care: "We have to pick these apples carefully to keep the stems intact. Removing them from the molds is a delicate process. We use a chisel to gently open it and then carefully extract the apple."
After harvesting, the apples are stored in a refrigerator to wait for the best-selling price. The farm can store almost 20 tons, Bardyk explained. Heart-shaped apples are sold at a higher price, "They are sold individually in special packaging, and last year, they were about 2.3 euros each. I think regular apples taste better than those grown in molds. But their attractiveness and novelty are their unique selling points."
Source: agronews.ua