Apple Varieties

Apples begin ripening in late July/early August and continue through mid to late October. The Orchard boasts over 20 varieties for purchase at the Apple Shed and for U-Pick. Because we are a small batch orchard, quantities are limited. And U-Pick isn’t available in all varieties. Most of our trees are heirloom—older varieties passed down through generations and characterized by their diversity of tastes, textures, sizes, and shapes. Unlike the limited number of apple offerings in grocery stores, heirloom apples offer a complexity of flavor, from sweet to tangy to crisp and juicy. Many of our Orchard trees were planted by their original owners at the beginning of the 20th century. We continue replenishing our numbers by grafting new trees each spring and invite you to enjoy your visit.

VARIETIES

Approximate ripening dates. Based on past years’ yield and weather dependent.

JULY


TRANSPARENT
~tart~

First apple of season. Ultimate applesauce

MAGNUM BONUM
~sweet~

Small. aromatic. Name translates “great good”

EARLY JUNE
~tart~

Medium with subacid flavor. Especially good for pies


AUGUST

ALTAPASS RED
~sweet~

Grafted at Orchard. First Harvest 2022. Eating

RED BLAZE
~tart~

Cross: Jonathon & Grimes Golden. Baking

GALA
~sweet~

Small/Medium. Crisp, aromatic. Eating

GINGER GOLD
~semi-sweet~


Maybe cross: Newtown Pippin & Golden Delicious. Eating.

JONAGOLD
~sweet-tart~


Cross: Golden Delicious & Jonathon. Juicy. Eating

MCINTOSH
~semi-tart~

S
Medium. Aromatic. National apple of Canada. Eating




SEPTEMBER

ALTAPASS ORCHARD SPECIALTY
~sweet~

Grafted at Orchard in 2023.

AUTUMN GALA
~sweet-crisp~

Small/Medium. Matures later than Gala. Eating

CANDY APPLE
~sweet~

Grafted at Orchard. First harvest 2023. Eating

CROW’S EGG
~semi-sweet~

(Southern variety). Medium. AKA Raven Egg. Eating

EMPIRE
~tart-sweet~

Medium. Cross: Red Delicious & McIntosh. Juicy, crisp

GOLDEN DELICIOUS
~sweet-tart~

Large. Crisp. Bruises easily. AKA Yellow Delicious

GRIMES GOLDEN*
~sweet-tangy~

Medium. Spicy. Parent to Golden Delicious, sweeter

KINNAIRD’S CHOICE
~semi-tart~

Medium/large. AKA Black Winesap.

NEW ENGLAND GREENING
~semi-sweet~

Medium. Eating/cooking

RED DELICIOUS
~sweet~

Medium. Most widely planted apple. Eating

ROME BEAUTY
~semi-sweet~

Large. Juicy, crisp. Baking/cooking

SHEEP’S NOSE
~midly-sweet~

Large. Oblong. Aromatic. AKA Banana Apple

STAYMAN
~tart~

Small/Medium. Crisp, spicy. Eating/applesauce/cider

SUMMER RAMBO
~semi-sweet~

Medium/Large. Tender, crisp. Eating/cooking

VIRGINIA BEAUTY
~semi-tart~

Medium/Large. Tender, juicy. Eating/dessert

WOLF RIVER
~semi-tart~

Medium/Large. Juicy. Cooking–applesauce/butter

OCTOBER

ARKANSAS BLACK
~semi-tart~

Medium. Firm, crisp. Baking/butter/cider/juice

GOLD RUSH
~tart~

Medium. Crisp, tangy. From Golden Delicious. Baking

GRAGG
~tart~

Medium. Juicy. Stores well. AKA Winter Queen.

KING LUSCIOUS
~semi-tart~

Medium/Large. Crisp. Cross: Stayman & Wolf River

LIMBERTWIG
~sweet~

Medium. spicy, aromatic. Eating/butter/cider

YORK
~semi-sweet~

Large. Lopsided. Sweetens in storage. Eating/baking

ROW OF FAME

UGLY APPLES

“Ugly apples” happen when chemical spraying is limited. We are not an organic orchard, however, are dedicated to preserving the land and the life on that land, including the bees and butterflies.  We tolerate minor surface damage to avoid harming them. The flavor is not affected; it’s enhanced by the lack of heavy chemicals. We are mindful of our enormous responsibility to maintain a balance in our ecosystem—all life at the Orchard at Altapass.