COR Blimey, apples and pears!

Healthy eating MP Gordon Prentice today got to the core of Britain's failure to get fruity -- and claimed we're not having our taste buds tickled.

Mr Prentice has urged the government to encourage growers to return to varieties of fruit which were readily available in the 19th Century.

He claims the Victorian varieites of apples, pears and other fruits which are hardly ever discovered today would tempt the nation's palates because they are so tasty.

And apple growers and fruit eaters have given his call a mixed raction.

Mary Almond, 70, of St Mary's Close, Blackburn, thought it would be a good idea and said: "Fruit seemed a lot tastier in the old days. I can remember the Sturmers Pippin variety and it was really nice."

Courtney Hugo, 52, owns W and D Moss Grocers in Blackburn Market and currently sells seven different varieties of apples from across the world.

He said: "I think a lot of people would try new varieties, there's no disputing that. People are always wanting something different." Glenda Clark, 54, who works at W and D's, also agreed with the idea and said; "The Sturmers Pippin was absolutely lovely. It would certainly worth introducing these varieties again but I think the English growers will need a bit of encouragement."

John Woods, fruit grower and owner of John Woods' grocers in Blackburn Market, said: "I don't think there is the demand for so many types of apples these days and there are so many growers that just don't know which way to turn. We've had a rough time over the last couple of years and we ghet no financial help."

CORRECT on the issue.

And he said: "There are many types of apples and pears which were very familiar to our Victorian forefathers and mothers but have since disappeared. Its time we brought them back."

Mr Prentice said he would like to see some old fruit varieties brought back including "heirloom apples" such as the Orleans Reinette, the James Greave, and Sturmers Pippin.

He would also like some more exotics from the middle ages back on the dinner table such as the medlar, eaten part rotted to give a pleasant acidic flavour -- and the quince, which he said was a "quintessential English fruit."

Mr Prentice said: "There are all sorts of exotic old fruits, especially apples, that I would love to see back in circulation.

"We are in a catch 22 situation where merchants won't supply fruit unless there is a demand but unless they are available, we don't know if we want them.

"We have been brought up on a diet of golden delicious and red delicious and we tend to buy with our eyes and not our tastebuds."

"There are lots of wonderful tastes out there if only they were available and I hope they will be."