| BRAEBURN - Developed in New Zealand in 1952
PLU – sm. 4101 lg. 4103
Flavor Profile: A rich, sweet-tart/spicy taste. Extremely juicy.
Description/Appearance: Color can vary from orange to red over a yellow background.
Parentage: Discovered as a chance seedling near Nelson, New Zealand. Its parentage is thought to have occurred when the Lady Hamilton and Granny Smith cross-pollinated.
Availability: Harvested in late October and available through June.
Usage: The sweet-tart flavor makes it excellent for eating fresh, while the high acidity makes it great for baking. |
| CAMEO- Developed in Dryden Washington in 1987
PLU – sm. 3065 lg. 3066
Flavor Profile: A very sweet up-front taste with a hint of tartness. Its crunchy texture makes it an excellent fresh eating apple.
Description/Appearance: Rich red stripping over a creamy orange background featuring its characteristic white lenticels.
Parentage: Discovered as a chance seedling and thought to be a cross between and Red Delicious and Golden Delicious.
Availability: Harvested in late October and available through April.
Usage: One of the best overall desert or salad apples. Excellent when eaten fresh.
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| CORTLAND - Developed in Geneva New York in 1898
PLU – sm. 4104 lg. 4106
Flavor Profile: A juicy, sweet taste with a mild tartness.
Description/Appearance: Brilliant crimson red with a pale yellow background. A snow-white flesh.
Parentage: Cross between a McIntosh and Ben Davis.
Availability: Harvested in mid-September and available through November.
Usage: Its snow-white flesh is resistant to browning, which makes it an excellent apple for all salads and desserts. Also, a great apple for grilling or just eating fresh. |
| EMPIRE – Developed in Geneva New York in 1966
PLU – sm. 41241 lg. 4126
Flavor Profile: Very crisp blend of sweet and tart. Flesh is white and juicy.
Description/Appearance: Almost pure red, mid-size with a white flesh. The Thome Empire, which is a new and improved high color strain, was found on one of our growers’ farms.
Parentage: Cross between a McIntosh and a Red Delicious.
Availability: Harvested in mid-September and available through June.
Usage: Excellent apple for both eating and baking. Ideal apple for child’s lunch box. |
| FUJI – Developed in Japan in the 1930’s.
PLU – sm. 4129 lg. 4131
Flavor Profile: This variety is full of flavor! Very sweet and extremely juicy, this apple is a favorite for both fresh eating and fruit salads.
Description/Appearance: Varies from yellow-green with red highlights to very red with a cream- colored flesh.
Parentage: A cross between a Red Delicious and a Ralls Janet. Introduced to the U.S. in the 1980’s.
Availability: Harvested in late-October and available through June.
Usage: Excellent for eating, salads and Baking. |
| GALA – Developed in New Zealand in the 1920’s
PLU – sm. 41321 lg. 4134
Flavor Profile: Very aromatic and sweet with a crispy, firm texture.
Description/Appearance: Orange/red stripes or sometimes blush over a creamy yellow background.
Parentage: A result of a cross in New Zealand between a Golden Delicious and a Kidd’s Orange Red. This popular apple made its way to the U.S. in the 1970s.
Availability: Harvested in early-September and available through June.
Usage: This sweet apple is great for eating fresh or in salads.
Flavor Profile: Mildly sweet with a tart finish and some hints of spice. |
| GINGER GOLD – Developed in Virginia in 1969
PLU – sm. 4097 lg. 4096
Description/Appearance: Pale greenish/gold skin with a slight pinkish blush. The flesh is crispy with a cream color that resists browning more than most varieties
Parentage: A cross between a Golden Delicious and an Albemarle Pippin along with some other unknown variety.
Availability: One of the earliest apples to be harvested beginning in mid-August and generally available through September this gets the Michigan apple harvest off to an exciting start.
Usage: Great to enjoy as a snake eaten fresh or also a wonderful cooking/baking apple. |
 | GOLDEN DELICIOUS – Discovered in Clay County, West Virginia in 1905
PLU – sm. 4136 lg. 4137
Flavor Profile: Very sweet and gingery-smooth.
Description/Appearance: Uniform shape. Yellow, thin skin and attractive pink blush when cooler nights precede harvest.
Parentage: A chance seedling thought to be a cross between a Golden Reinette and a Grimes Golden.
Availability: Harvested in mid-September and available through July.
Usage: Excellent choice for pies, sauce and general baking. Also, a great apple for eating fresh. |
 | HONEYCRISP – Developed by the University of Minnesota in 1961
PLU – sm. 3283 lg. 3283
Flavor Profile: Explosively crisp and juicy. Sweet with a mild tang.
Description/Appearance: Brilliant scarlet red over a yellow/golden background.
Parentage: Developed by the University of Minnesota breeding program using a cross between a Macoun and a Honeygold.
Availability: Mid-September through December.
Usage: Excellent for snacking on and eating fresh. Also a great choice for salads and sauce. |
| IDA ARED – Developed in Moscow, Idaho in 1942
PLU – sm. 4140 lg. 4142
Flavor Profile: Fragrantly sweet and tart. The flesh is juicy with a pronounced flavor.
Description/Appearance: Generally a larger apple with a brilliant red skin over a white crisp flesh. The Marquis Ida Red, a redder strain was found on Thome Farms, a Jack Brown grower.
Parentage: Developed by the Idaho Agricultural Experiment station from a cross between a Jonathan and Wagener.
Availability: Early October through June.
Usage: Excellent for cooking and baking because the texture holds up well. Also can be eaten fresh. |
 | JONAGOLD – Developed in Geneva, New York in 1968
PLU – sm. 4141 lg. 4146
Flavor Profile: Aromatic and juicy with both sweet and tart ascents.
Description/Appearance: Generally a larger apple with reddish-orange stripe/blush over a yellow-green background. Flesh is crisp and juicy with a creamy-yellowish color.
Parentage: Developed by the New York State Agricultural Experiment station in Geneva, New York in 1968 using a cross between a Golden Delicious and Jonathan.
Availability: Late September through May.
Usage: Excellent for eating fresh and also great for salads and baking. |
| JONAMAC – Developed in Geneva, New York in 1944
PLU – sm. 4141 lg. 4143
Flavor Profile: The rich flavor of the McIntosh and the spicy flavor of the Jonathan. A combination of both sweet and tart.
Description/Appearance: Medium size with a dark red over a green background. Flesh is a fine textured and white in color.
Parentage: Officially named in 1972, this apple is a cross between a Jonathan and a McIntosh.
Availability: Early September through January
Usage: While being firmer than a McIntosh, this apple is an excellent choice for cooking, sauce or eating fresh. |
| JONATHAN – Discovered in Woodstock, New York in 1826
PLU – sm. 4148 lg. 4150
Flavor Profile: Moderately tart with some hints of sweetness.
Description/Appearance: Medium-sized with a deep-red blush over a green-yellow, background. The Lucky Jon strain is a higher-color Jonathan found on Thome Orchards, a Jack Brown grower.
Parentage: A chance seedling related to the Esopus Spitzenburg apple.
Availability: Harvest begins in mid-September and available through June.
Usage: Good for eating fresh, sauces and cider. |
| McINTOSH – Discovered in Ontario, Canada in 1811
PLU – sm. 4152 lg. 4019
Flavor Profile: Sweet with a mildly tart/tang. Flesh is a tender snow white.
Description/Appearance: Crimson red with a green background.
Parentage: Discovered as a chance seedling by John McIntosh in 1811. It’s believed to have parentage to the Snow Apple also known as the Fameuse.
Availability: Harvest begins in early September and it’s available through June.
Usage: Excellent fresh eating apple along with making applesauce also used in salads. |
| PAULA RED – Discovered in Sparta, Michigan in 1960
PLU – sm. 4155 lg. 4157
Flavor Profile: A refreshing combination of both sweet and tart. Flesh is a tender snow-white similar to a McIntosh.
Description/Appearance: Brilliant red color over a green background with some yellow-tan spots.
Parentage: A natural mutation of the McIntosh, the Paula Red was discovered around 1960 by grower Lewis Arends in Sparta, Michigan. Lewis Arends, also a grower of Jack Brown, named this variety after his wife Pauline.
Availability: Mid-August into October
Usage: Great for both fresh eating and cooking. |
| RED DELICIOUS – Discovered in Peru, Iowa in the 1870’s
PLU – sm. 4167 lg. 4168
Flavor Profile: Aromatic with a juicy, mildly sweet flavor. A white, cream-colored crispy flesh.
Description/Appearance: Medium to large in size with a deep bright-red-over-green background and an elongated shape.
Parentage: Discovered by Jesse Hiatt in approximately 1875 as a chance seedling growing on his farm in Peru, Iowa. In 1894, Stark Brothers Nursery purchased the rights and gave it the name Red Delicious.
Availability: Harvest begins around mid-September and available through July.
Usage: Great for snacking and eating fresh, also good for salads. |
| ROME – Discovered in Rome Township, Ohio in 1816
PLU – sm. 4169 lg. 4171
Flavor Profile: Mildly sweet and semi-tart with a firm, white, sometimes slightly pink flesh.
Description/Appearance: Medium to large with a red glossy finish, thick skin and firm flesh.
Parentage: Discovered in 1816 as a chance seedling by Joel Gillet with parentage unknown.
Availability: Late September through June
Usage: Very well suited for baking because they maintain shape and cooking enhances the flavors. |
| WINESAP - Discovered in what was believed New Jersey in 1817
PLU – sm. 4189 lg. 4191
Flavor Profile: A combination of both a sweet and spicy-tart flavor.
Description/Appearance: Medium to large with a reddish blush flecked with light green and yellow.
Parentage: Believed to be native to New Jersey while its direct parentage is unknown.
Availability: Harvest begins in mid-October and available through March.
Usage: Primarily known for strong cooking characteristics, it is also popular in cider and for fresh eating. |
