Types of Apples

A Guide to the Different Types of Apples

Ask an average American about the different types of apples they've eaten and they likely won't have much knowledge beyond a few recognizable names from the produce section – probably Red Delicious and Granny Smith, maybe Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp. The reality is that the iconic apple has a diverse history of varying flavors, textures, colors, and sizes.

Even as the most diversely represented fresh fruit or vegetable in grocery stores, its commercialized varieties constitute only a fraction of the types of apples1 we've grown over the centuries.

How Many Types of Apples Are There?

A 1905 publication titled Nomenclature of the Apple2 lists a dizzying number of varieties mentioned in literature in the previous 100 years, totaling up at about 17,000.

The historical and present-day diversity of apples – more than 100 varieties3 are currently grown commercially in the United States, and 2,500 around the world – is perhaps best attributed to the way in which the trees reproduce. Apple trees grown from seeds generally won't replicate the characteristics of a single parent but instead include genes to display characteristics found anywhere in the ancestry of two parent trees. This makes planting seeds4 an intriguing gamble – you could get a tasty new variety, or you could get apples that aren't fit for eating.

To maintain fruit characteristics, apple varieties, both commercially grown and otherwise, are propagated through asexual reproduction. Grafting5, or splicing a branch from one tree onto a compatible rootstock, creates a tree that will produce the same apples as the original tree. If mutations occur, growers may select them for future grafting if they offer an improvement in appearance, taste, hardiness, or other aspects.

This method of growing means the apple you plucked from the produce department of your local supermarket may come from a series of grafted branches, or cultivars, dating back to a parent tree that was a seedling hundreds of years ago.

What Defines a Variety?

Apple varieties can vary in several ways, including visually or by flavor, time of ripening, and how long they keep in storage. These varieties come in as wide of a range as individual tastes and may be cultivated for or predisposed to a specific purpose. An apple that isn't considered flavorful for snacking by anyone’s standards might be an excellent addition to cider, and a good snacking apple might not cook well. Here's a look at some varieties that are mass distributed or cherished as an heirloom and some of their distinguishing characteristics.

Most Popular Apples

The following common types of apples are the most produced in the United States according to non-profit association USApple6.

Cripps Pink (Pink Lady)

Cripps Pink, known as Pink Lady under its trademark name, is a cross between a Golden Delicious and Australia's Lady Williams. They are tangy and sweet, making them suited for cooking as well as eating raw.

Empire

Researched and developed beginning in 1945 in New York State, this apple comes from an original seed that was a cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious trees. Seeds from the tree that resulted from this cross were grown and tested at Cornell University until the final version of the Empire apple was selected in 1966. It is a versatile eating apple that works well in everything from pies to lunch boxes.

Fuji

These apples were developed in Japan as a cross between the Red Delicious and Thomas Jefferson's favorite, Ralls Janet, and now are heavily produced in the United States. These sweet apples are similar in appearance to Cripp's Pink.

Golden Delicious

Unrelated to the Red Delicious – the Red Delicious moniker was marketed as a result of this apple's popularity – the Golden Delicious was discovered in West Virginia in the 1800s. It has a golden hue and a sugary, rich flavor when ripe.

Granny Smith

This tart green apple is sometimes used for snacking, but it's ideal for baking in pies. Likely a descendant of the French Crabapple, the Granny Smith was discovered by an Australian grandmother in the 19th century.

Honeycrisp

A relative newcomer to the apple scene, this apple is the result of a University of Minnesota breeding program. Consumers have been able to purchase this crisp, sweet apple in stores since the 1990s.

McIntosh

Also called the McIntosh Red, this juicy, tart apple is a favorite for snacking, has been around since the early 19th century, and is Canada's national apple. It was immortalized by tech giant Apple after employee and McIntosh lover Jef Raskin drew inspiration from it when naming the Macintosh computer.

Red Delicious

This apple has recently fallen from its long-lived glory as the most popular type in the United States. A series of mutations since its Iowa birth in the late 19th century has led to the beautifully shaped red apple we know now. Although often criticized for its propagation, which is based on looks rather than taste and texture, it's still a versatile American classic that stores well.

Classic & Hard-to-find Favorites

Here are a few American heirloom7 varieties. These types of apples have limited or non-existent commercial distribution.

Baldwin

This apple was the most popular apple in New England and was also shipped elsewhere in the country. A hard freeze in 1934 that eliminated much of the stock nearly ended commercial production of the Baldwin8. An apple prized for eating, baking pies, and making cider in its heyday, it's not often found in stores today, but it's still kept alive as an heirloom on family farms.

Cortland

The Cortland is a bright red apple that originated in New York in 1898 and has white flesh similar to the McIntosh.

Ginger Gold

A golden apple that's likely descended from the Golden Delicious, the Ginger Gold was discovered in 1960s. This apple has a mild, sharp flavor.

Hidden Rose

The Hidden Rose9 is a green apple with pink flesh that originated in Oregon. It is ideal for cooking or eating fresh thinly sliced.

Winter Banana

Originating in Indiana before 1890, the Winter Banana is a dessert apple that many people claim has a slight banana flavor.

Keener Seedling

This is a small to medium golden apple that ripens in October. It first appeared in North Carolina around 1880.

Resources

  1. Why Your Supermarket Sells Only 5 Kinds of Apples. Mother Jones. Accessed July 2021.
  2. Nomenclature of the apple: a catalogue of the known varieties referred to in American publications from 1804 to 1904. Ragan, William Henry. Archive.org. Accessed July 2021.
  3. Over 2,500 Varieties of Apples are Grown in the U.S. AgHires. Accessed July 2021.
  4. Can I grow an apple tree from a seed? Iowa State University. Accessed July 2021.
  5. The Science of Grafted Fruit Trees. Stark Bros. Accessed July 2021.
  6. Apple Varieties. US Apple. Accessed July 2021.
  7. 73+ Heirloom Apples You’ve Probably Never Heard Of. Epic Gardening. Accessed July 2021.
  8. Baldwin. New England Apples. Accessed July 2021.
  9. Hidden Rose Apple. Fruit Maven. Accessed July 2021.