So word has it that the Convention on Biological Diversity people will be handing out apples (or models of apples) with the logo of the Decade of Biodiversity on them during the 66th session of the UN General Assembly in New York City this September. Including to President Obama. The only photograph I’ve been able to find of these fruits comes from Nagoya last year, but they don’t look like heirloom varieties to me. An opportunity missed?
Absolutely an opportunity missed. Heirloom would have been a minimum threshold for even beginning to represent biodiversity. An wild or traditional fruit or vegetable that is not well known would have had much more symbolic potential. And I agree 100% with your implicit suggestion that symbolism matters. Powerful symbols are always a part of any drive for successful change and transformation.
If they want to highlight diversity, instead of handing out replicas of generic fruit and vegetables, they might consider sculptures cast directly from actual heirloom varieties:
http://www.rareforms.com/category/art/