Scan Magazine | Special Theme | An Autumn in Sweden
Emma Karp Lundström’s annually anticipated apple painting.
Take a bite of the apple During the last weekend in September, Kivik hosts a buzzing harvest festival with all things related to apples. It is a great opportunity to learn about growing apples, taste the delicious fruit and juices, and even see the world’s biggest apple painting. By Malin Norman | Photos: Lars-Olof Börjesson
The annual Apple Market takes place on 24-25 September in Kivik’s harbour. The popular harvest festival in southern Sweden has apples at its heart, as arranged by non-profit organisation Äppelmarknaden i Kivik together with local farmers and companies involved in the fruit industry, such as Äppelriket and Kiviks Musteri. “We want to showcase the uniqueness of Swedish fruit and increase the knowledge of fruit growing,” explains festival chairman Lars-Olof Börjesson. It all started back in 1988 with the first festival aiming to promote Swedish fruit. Almost 30 years later, the event attracts around 20,000 visitors every year during the weekend and an additional 30,000 in the following two weeks, when part of the exhibition is still on display in the harbour. 66 | Issue 91 | August 2016
This is doubtlessly an important event in the calendar for the tourism industry in the region.
Fruity highlights Over the years, the festival has expanded its exhibition area and now includes a 300-square-metre tent showcasing around 200 types of apples. There is also a special knowledge section explaining fruit farming as well as experts at hand for visitors to get advice on their own homegrown apples. People can of course buy a wide assortment of Swedish fruits and also handicrafts such as ceramics at the street market, with most of the many stands in some way related to apples. The main attraction is the stunning apple painting. Every year, talented
artist Emma Karp Lundström creates a new design with around 35,000 apples arranged on 70,000 nails. It is kept secret until the big revelation at the festival. “Some years we’ve had sculptures made, but a painting is definitely more visible and makes a greater impression,” says Börjesson. “But it can be a bit tricky, for example in finding exactly the right colours of the apples.” In addition to savouring the delicious fruit, visitors can enjoy a jam-packed festival schedule with entertainment by famous Swedish musicians, such as this year’s headline acts Kikki Danielsson and Danne Stråhed; restaurants serving Swedish specialties; and lots of fun activities for children. “This is a great party for the whole family!”
For more information, please visit: www.appelmarknaden.se