Red Delicious

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Available

Late September to early

The Most Well Know Apple in The U.S.

Red Delicious is a medium-sized apple, with a tall conical shape. The dark and intense crimson color makes it the quintessential red apple, and it is has strong shelf appeal. One of the most widely grown apple varieties. Although the names are similar, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious are entirely different varieties. There are a lot of other similarities though: both varieties were discovered in the USA at the end of the 19th century, both need warm climates, both have interesting histories, and both are basically sweet apples. Red Delicious has a sweet but very mild flavor,

Best Uses

Red Delicious apples are best used in fresh preparations, as their flesh does not hold up well when cooked. Add to green, fruit and chopped salads. Use as an edible garnish on sandwiches, quesadillas and burgers. Since their flesh breaks down easily they can be successfully slow cooked and pureed to make sauces and soups. Their flavor pairs well with cinnamon, cheddar cheese, horseradish, chard, cherries, mustard and pecans

History of the Cultivar

The Red Delicious apple was discovered as a chance seedling in 1872 on the Iowa farm of Jesse Hiatt. He marketed it under the name Hawkeye and eventually sold the rights to a fruit company known as Stark Brothers. The apple was first renamed Delicious and later on when Stark Brothers discovered another apple and named it Golden Delicious they renamed the Delicious, Red Delicious. The Red Delicious apple saw tremendous commercial success between 1940 and the late 1980’s, with the bulk of the supply coming out of Washington State. Its popularity has declined slightly the past twenty years as consumer interest has swayed to new varieties as well as towards a renewed interest in heirloom apples.