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.
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
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
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
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
In 2018, the Orchard planted 50 trees—two each of 25 varieties of heirloom trees. Most of these are not that well known. Some are ubiquitous to our landscape. All are (with one exception) American propagated from generations past. For more information on these apples, check out our signs in the red barn, or ask our mission manager.
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.