Varieties |
Typically harvested |
Fruit characteristic |
Braeburn
 |
mid-October |
Large red fruit; outstanding, well-balanced flavor; very
firm fruit |
Empire
 |
mid-September |
Empire ripens in mid-September in Missouri. It is a
medium-sized, dark red- colored fruit that naturally produces
wax on the apple surface. This whitish coating of wax helps
the apple retain its firm texture and protects it from shriveling.
The flesh is creamy white and juicy. It is a good fresh dessert
apple and can be blended into cider. Empire is a McIntosh x
Red Delicious cross developed by the New York Agricultural
Experiment Station in Geneva, NY and introduced in 1966. |
Enterprise
 |
mid-October |
Large; bright red; spicy and juicy |
Fuji
 |
mid-October |
Medium to large reddish fruit; not attractive; very sweet
and juicy |
Gala
 |
mid-August |
The popularity of Royal Gala has spread from "downunder" to
North America as it was introduced in New Zealand in 1960.
A great early season apple that kids and adults enjoy starting
around mid-August. The sweet juice from these crisp apples
will drip from your chin. Enjoy them fresh, in a dessert, in
baked treats, sauces, and in salads. Royal Gala apples are
medium in size and round to conic in shape. Pronounced red
stripes over a yellow-orange undercolor makes it a distinctive
variety. Gala is a cross of Kidd's Orange x Golden Delicious
introduced in New Zealand in 1960. |
Golden Delicious
 |
mid-September |
This variety is an old-time favorite that originated in West
Virginia as a chance seedling in the early 1900's. Although
this variety has been grown for nearly a century, there are
many new improved strains of Golden Delicious with great eye
appeal and the same terrific flavor. Golden Delicious apples
are tasty when used fresh, in salads or sauce, for baking or
blended into cider. |
Honeycrisp
 |
mid-August |
Large; yellow with mottled red; sub-acid; juicy |
Jonagold
 |
mid-September |
Visualize the best of two worlds - the crackling tart Jonathan
and the oh-so-sweet Golden Delicious. You'll think you've gone
to Apple Heaven when you treat yourself to your first taste
of this luscious 3 1/2 inch Jonagold. This apple was chosen
by experts as one of the two most preferred dessert apples
in the world. This apple is large, firm, juicy, and crisp with
a red blush over yellow coloring and a sweet-tart flavoring
that is well balanced. It typically ripens in mid-September.
Jonagold was developed by the New York State Agricultural Experiment
Station at Geneva, N. Y., in 1968. |
Jonalicious
 |
early September |
Medium size; red over yellow color |
Jonathan
 |
early September |
Medium-sized red fruit; tart but well-balanced flavor; favorite
throughout the Midwest |
Liberty
 |
early September |
Liberty is an early, mid-season variety that is available
at roadside markets in early September. Missouri orchardists
favor this apple due to its resistance to the "big four" diseases
- apple scab, cedar apple rust, fire blight, and powdery mildew.
This medium sized, round fruit has red stripes with greenish
undercolor. Liberty is used as an all purpose apple. Liberty
can be eaten fresh, used in processing (sauces, pies, baking),
and freezing. Liberty's flesh is nearly white and very crisp. |
Lodi
 |
mid-July |
This apple can be stored from 3-6 months. Flavor intensifies
in storage. |
Pristine
 |
late July |
Medium-large; yellow with blush; slightly tart |
Red Delicious
 |
mid-September |
Red Delicious originated as a chance seedling in Iowa and
was named in 1895. In the last 100 years, many deep red strains
have been developed, with stripes and the five bumps on the
elongated fruit. Today, Red Delicious apples are the most popular
apple variety world wide. Although Red Delicious apples are
available at grocery stores year-round, the flavorful ones
grown in Missouri are usually harvested around September 10.
The sooner these apples are purchased after harvest, the crisper
and juicier they will be! Red Delicious are best for fresh
desserts and salads. They are not recommended for cooking. |
Suncrisp
 |
mid-September |
Medium-large; yellow with orange blush; sub-acid flavor |
Williams' Pride
 |
late July |
Medium-large size; red fruit; softens quickly; spicy, well-balanced
flavor |
Winesap
 |
early October |
Winesaps are medium sized, tart, and spicy apple that
is dark red in color with a reddish to purple overlay. There
are many
uses
for these apples from ciders to desserts these apples are very
versatile and are one of the oldest grown in North America.
|
Yataka
 |
October-December |
Yatakas apples are a lot like Fujis in taste and in appearance.
They are a
medium to large apple that is very sweet and
juicy. The outside is red over a yellow background. These apples
are best enjoyed soon after harvested since they don't store
for long periods. |
York
 |
mid-October |
Medium to large; red blush over green-yellow; firm, crisp
and juicy |
