McIntosh

Nothing evokes fall better than the aromatic fragrance of McIntosh apples. People have enjoyed this apple since 1811 when John McIntosh discovered the first seedling. McIntosh apples grow particularly well in New York's cool climate.

What's It Like?

• Sweet with a tart tang
• Very juicy
• Tender, white flesh

Best Uses:

• Excellent for eating and sauce
• Good for salads and pies

Special Hint:

• McIntosh's tender flesh cooks down quickly. Add a thickener if making a pie.

Available late September to May

Red Delicious

If you haven't tried an Apple Country® Red Delicious, you haven't tried Red Delicious. These popular mildly sweet apples are grown across the country but our Red Delicious have the slight tartness so characteristic of apples from New York. Give our Apple Country® Red Delicious a try!

What's It Like?

• Sweet
• Juicy
• Crisp, yellow flesh
  

Best Uses:

• Excellent for eating and salad

Special Hint:

• Red Delicious look great for a long time so they are the favored choice for holiday centerpieces and wreaths.

Available October to September

Gala

Another apple made for kids is the Gala, a new variety developed in New Zealand. It's got the mild flavor that "picky eaters" prefer and a striking bright yellow-red color that attracts the eye.

What's It Like?

• Mild sweet flavor
• Juicy
• Crisp, creamy yellow flesh

Best Uses:

• Excellent for eating and salads

Special Hint:

• Galas often grow small. Their size, mellow flavor and thin skin make them a perfect choice for kids.

Available September to January

Ginger Gold

Can't wait for your favorite apples in the early fall? The early ripening Ginger Gold will satisfy your need for a great snacking apple. Check them out early in the season when this special new variety is readily available.

What's It Like?

• Sweet but mildly tart
• Fine textured, crisp cream colored flesh

Best Uses:

• Excellent for eating and salads

Special Hint:

• Ginger Gold is very slow to turn brown so it's an excellent choice for any fresh cut apple use.

Available August to November

Granny Smith

This great tasting apple has a long shelf life, and many uses from baking to snacking.

What's It Like?

• Tart and Tasty
• Crisp and firm

Best Uses:

• Ideal for pies, fried apples
• Snack or in salads

Special Hint:

• Keeps shape when cooked

Available Late Fall Through Spring

Golden Delicious

Some people think that Golden Delicious is simply the yellow cousin of the popular Red Delicious apple. But, in fact, they are related in name only. This honey sweet apple is a special treat all on its own.

What's It Like?

• Mild sweet flavor
• Juicy
• Crisp, light yellow flesh

Best Uses:

• Excellent for eating, salads and sauce
• Good for pies, baking and freezing

Special Hint:

• You can cut down the sugar in pies and sauces made from Golden Delicious apples.

Available September to June

Cortland

Imagine a fragrant fresh fruit cup with beautiful snow white apples. You can bet it was made with Cortland, the very best Apple Country® salad apple. This great all purpose apple was developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva in 1898.

What's It Like?

• Sweet with a hint of tartness
• Juicy
• Tender, snow white flesh

Best Uses:

• Excellent for eating, salads, sauce, pies and baking
• Good for freezing

Special Hint:

• Cortland apples are wonderful for kabobs, fruit plates and garnishes because they don't turn brown quickly when cut.

Available September to April

Macoun

Want a perfect no-fat dessert that will satisfy your sweet tooth? Macoun may just be your apple, but, hurry, these special apples are only available in the fall. Macoun was developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva in 1932. It's named for a famous Canadian fruit breeder.

What's It Like?

• Extra sweet and aromatic
• Very juicy
• Tender, snow white flesh

Best Uses:

• Excellent for eating
• Good for sauce and salads

Special Hint:

• Try serving Macoun slices with cheese for a sophisticated dessert in the autumn.

Available October to November

Idared

Savor the old-fashioned goodness of baked apples, especially Idareds, which hold their shape perfectly and look beautiful on the table. Developed in Idaho, it's a cross between two old time NY apples, Jonathan and Wagener, first raised in Penn Yan in 1791.

What's It Like?

• Sweetly tart
• Juicy
• Firm pale yellow-green flesh, sometimes tinted rosy pink

Best Uses:

• Excellent for sauce, cooking, baking and pies
• Good for eating, salads and freezing

Special Hint:

• Idareds make a beautiful pink applesauce. Cook the apples with the skins on and strain the sauce to get the best pink color.

Available October to August

Fuji

Wow! What a great snacking apple! Fuji apples have it all--super sweet, super juicy and super crisp. This Japanese apple has American parents, Red Delicious and Ralls Janet, an antique apple that goes back to Thomas Jefferson in 1793. We're glad this popular Japanese apple is grown in New York now!

What's It Like?

• Very sweet
• Very juicy
• Very crisp, cream colored flesh

Best Uses:

• Excellent for eating and salads
• Good for sauce

Special Hint:

• Fuji applesauce needs little or no sugar.

Available late October to June

Red Rome

Perfect fried apple slices sitting next to a pork chop are probably Red Romes. These superb cooking apples retain their shape beautifully as well as their tart flavor. This old time variety originated in Ohio in 1816 but is widely grown in New York State.

What's It Like?

• Mildly tart
• Firm, greenish white flesh

Best Uses:

• Excellent for sauce, baking and pies
• Good for salad and freezing

Special Hint:

• Combine Red Romes with a sweet apple such as Golden Delicious for tasty applesauce.

Available late October to September

Honeycrisp

Sometimes the name of an apple says it all. Honeycrisp apples are honey sweet (with a touch of tart) and amazingly crisp, some say "explosively crisp." It's easy to see why this new variety continues to grow in popularity since its 1991 introduction in Minnesota. Supplies are limited for now but more Honeycrisp trees are being planted every year.

What's It Like?

• Complex sweet-tart flavor
• Juicy
• Super crisp yellow flesh

Best Uses:

• Excellent for eating and salad
• Good for sauce, baking & pies

Special Hint:

• This ultra crisp apple will appeal to teens, a great way to encourage healthy snacking.

Available September to February

Winesap

This very popular old-time variety is treasured for its tart, spicy rich wine-like flavor. It is also quite good for long term storage and is great for snacks, sauce, and baking/pies.

What's It Like?

• Crisp and Juicy
• White Flesh
• Very firm

Best Uses:

• Goes well with wine & cheese
• Always good for snacking
• Cut into salads

Special Hint:

• This classic red apple is great for displays or decorations.

Available late Fall through Spring