Build a Bountiful Apple Set with These Stand-Out Varieties
While it felt like summer last week in the Pacific Northwest, the rain and cooler temps are bringing the fall feels and giving apple-eating vibes. Autumn means orchard fruit, and now’s the time to go big on apples! Whether eaten fresh out of hand, baked into something sweet and gooey or paired with cheese and crackers, shoppers seek apples as one of their go-to fall fruits.
The secret to great apple displays isn’t very well-kept. We’ve been saying it for years. Be sure to bring in options for every kind of eater, and don’t forget those color breaks!
Here are nine varieties that you won’t want your eaters to miss!
Ambrosia
This sweet, mild, low-acid apple boasts a delicious honeyed flavor that has helped propel organic Ambrosia into one of the top spots among apple lovers. Yellow with pink and red blush, this medium-sized and delightfully colorful apple creates plenty of visual interest. Ideal for fresh eating, Ambrosia is a great addition to lunch boxes and cheese boards.
Envy
Consistently voted as one of the best-eating red apples every year, there’s a reason for other apples to envy it. This apple checks all the boxes with high sugar, crisp yellow flesh, and an excellent, almost tropical flavor!
Kanzi
The product of a Gala and Braeburn cross, organic Kanzi is very juicy with a sweet mellow flavor and a touch of tanginess. A newer variety, Kanzi was bred to tick all the boxes that modern apple eaters seek out. This apple looks great in retail displays, is moderately firm and crisp, and is a generous size. Fantastic for fresh eating, be sure to bring in Kanzi!
Lady Alice
Deep orange and yellow with an attractive pink stripe, organic Lady Alice apple is as visually appealing as it is tasty. Known for its dense flesh that boasts a touch of satisfying tartness, Lady Alice is a great all-purpose apple. Delicious eaten out-of-hand, this apple is also a welcome component in cakes, sauces and cobblers!
Opal
Yellow-skinned with russeting around the stem, Opal is an absolute must-have for a splash of color in displays. Recently developed by First Fruits, this apple does not oxidize when cut, meaning its white flesh stays white! Known for its dynamite flavor, Opal has tropical overtones, which change drastically when eaten at room temperature and cold. Be sure to experiment with both!
Pinova
A German cultivar, organic Pinova draws its parentage from three old world apple varieties, including Cox Orange Pippin. Aromatic with a scent described as slightly tropical with floral undertones, there’s good reason this apple made the jump from Europe to become well-loved in the U.S. Its fine-textured juicy flesh makes yellow and red-striated Pinova a delight for fresh eating, and this apple stands up well under heat, too. Baked apples, anyone?
Rosalynn
Discovered as a chance seedling in a Washington orchard, organic Rosalynn apples are an ideal variety for fresh eating! Its cream-colored flesh is slow to brown, making Rosalynn a perfect apple for fruit salads and cheese boards where its crisp texture and mild, sweet flavor can be fully enjoyed. Juicy and with subtle floral notes, Rosalynn is not only delicious but also lovely to look at with its deep red blush and constellations of white lenticels.
Sugar Bee
The result of a cross between a Honeycrisp and an unknown variety, fans can thank the industrious honey bee for a chance pollination that yielded this delicious newer variety! Crisp Sugar Bee boasts the same sweetness Honeycrisp enthusiasts crave, with an underlying and distinguished rich floral flavor. Glossy, supple yellow-green skin with a red blush and orange overlays, Sugar Bee looks as tasty as it eats!
Tango
Celebrated for its satisfying crunch when bitten into, the crisp flesh of organic red Tango apples is juicy and sweet. This variety is an incredible fresh easter with notes of honey, citrus and a subtle hint of cinnamon. Perfect for pairing with warming spices, Tango also easily goes from snacking to baking and is lovely as the filling for an apple crisp.