Judge puts the bite on apple growers | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

Biggest, best, most wonky, most unusual shape, reddest - it was all in a day's work for the judge of the second annual Monty's Surprise apple competition.

Mark Christensen from Central Tree Crops Research Trust, one of the partners in the Monty's Surprise project, said that despite a rainy day plenty of entries were received for the light-hearted competition, held at the Whanganui River Traders Market on Saturday.

"There were a lot of very enthusiastic people there. It was especially great to see the children with their apples, they were so proud of themselves."

Around 10 category winners were selected, including best apple, biggest apple, reddest apple and most unusually shaped apple.

The judge was Sharon Duff from the Whanganui Regional Primary Health Organisation.

Prizes were donated by Springvale Garden Centre.

Mr Christensen said apples were judged by size, shape and colour.

Wendy Gordon won best apple. The biggest apple category was won by Robert Jaunay, with a whopping apple of 754g. The biggest apple grown by a child (746g) was won by Isaac Watkins.

"Monty's Surprise can grow very big, although part of that is down to the careful attention growers give them," Mr Christensen said.

The Monty's Surprise apple project was a joint venture between Central Tree Crops and the primary health organisation, to encourage people to eat healthier foods.