Ahead of Rosh Hashanah, Kibbutz Baram farmers announced the successful cultivation of five special apple varieties, four of which are already sold on the market on a limited scale. The new varieties, unlike most, have an early harvest period that extends into the winter and are known for their improved taste and physical features. The "importation" of these varieties was carried out under the auspices of the Galilee Development Corporation. The varieties are as follows: "Ariane," a French cultivar similar to the American variety Jonathan. Its color is strong red or yellow, with a pleasant mild flavor that is both sweet and acidic. It usually ripens in October. "Aurora Golden Gala," a pale yellow Canadian cultivar that is a cross between two other cultivars: "Splendor" and "Gala." Its sweet taste is somewhat milder than the Gala's. It ripens relatively early in the season, in mid-August. "Nikolai," an Israeli variety that is based on the Starking Delicious variety, named after an Israeli farmer from the Golan Heights who discovered it. Because of its dark red color, the farmers have dubbed it the "Snow White apple." It is known for its juicy texture and sweet taste. "Galaval," a French variety that has an intense red peel with juicy flesh. It will only reach Israeli consumers some five years from now. "Dalinette," another French medium-size variety that is dark red with a purple tone. It is very sweet. It ripens during the first half of October. Elkana Ben-Yashar, the head of the Northern Agriculture Research and Development division in the MIGAL Galilee Research Institute, told Israel Hayom that his company will share the necessary expertise with farmers in the Golan Heights and the Galilee to help them grow these varieties in large quantities. The head of the Galilee Development Corporation, Amos Levin, said he was "proud of the innovation that the farmers and Israel's agriculture have shown."