Manalagi Apples

The Manalagi (”give me more”) apple was developed from the Golden Delicious imported by the Dutch, and became famous for its long shelf life. It’s a small, white-green apple, slightly sweet and usually too hard for Western palates.
And indigestible for many Indonesians too if supermarket sales are any guide. Put a tray of Manalagi against the imports and the local produce will still be there when the other bins are empty.

Fresh produce prices rock and roll through the year according to supplies and seasons. Earlier this year researcher David Cook found the price of Batu apples, both Manalagi and the thick-skinned Rome Beauty above Rp 15,000 per kilo compared with Fuji from China at below Rp 10,000.
(Duncan Graham)