Apple Varieties
First Kiss
An early variety from the U of M typically ready in mid to late August. This medium sized bright red fruit has a very crisp texture, decent juice content, and sweet flavor. Great eating apple.
Sold out.
Paula Red
Very similar to the well known McIntosh this is a late august variety. It features a dusty darker skin with light spots. It is a soft apple with a sweet flavor great for eating and a favorite for applesauce.
Pre-picked available.
Zestar
The first offspring of the Honeycrisp, it’s a great eating apple as well as a great choice for cooking or baking. This medium to large size fruit has almost pastel red and green colors.
Sold out.
Chestnut Crabapple
Small apple ready around the first week of September. It has a rough skin, less juice than most and a refreshing nutty flavor.
Sold out.
Ginger Gold
Ginger Gold is a beautiful, scrumptious apple. Discovered by Ginger Harvey in 1969 as a chance seedling brought in by Hurricane Camille in Virginia. It combines the best features of the Harvest Apple and the Golden Delicious. This large fruit is bright yellow, crisp & juicy, thin skinned, has fine-textured flesh, and is sweet with a hint of spice. It is excellent for eating, baking, and sauces.
Sold out.
SweeTango
Another U of M crowd favorite! Ready in early September this apple is a hybrid of the Honeycrisp and Zestar. This large fruit has bright red and yellow colors, a yellow flesh, the crunch of Honeycrisp and it’s juicy enough to need a napkin to eat.
Pick your own is sparse.
Plenty of pre-picked available.
Sweet 16
A medium to large fruit ready in late September. Try it alongside the Honeycrisp. This is a hidden gem of sweet flavor and firm texture. A great eating apple as well as a great baking choice.
Picking now.
Cortland
Ready in late September this apple is easily spotted by its crimson color on the tree from a wax like coat. A medium to large fruit, it has a slightly crisp, with white flesh, and tart flavor. The premier fruit salad apple. Great for pies and applesauce.
Picking now.
Honeycrisp
The one that took the world by storm! Considered the best eating apple. It has vibrant color, a super crunch, great sweet flavor, and an explosive amount of juice. Find this crowd favorite in mid to late September.
Pick your own is sparse.
Limited supply of pre-picked available.
SnowSweet
This apple is good for everything. Sweet flavor for an eating apple, it also is great for cooking. On the tree there is a wax coat that makes the colors dull, it’s bright red and green when polished. It is a firm apple and has a good amount of juice with a white flesh that stays white when cut. Usually ready in the last week of September or early October.
Picking now.
Liberty
This smaller darker red apple is a late September variety. With a firm texture and tart flavor, it is the closest to Haralson, great to eat for the tart apple fan and great for baking.
Picking now.
Honeygold
The second yellow apple available at Applewood Orchard. This is a softer apple great for fresh eating with a mild sweet flavor. The spotted skin ranges from a pale green to a bright yellow with hints of red from sun exposure. The soft texture makes it a good candidate for applesauce. Ready towards the end of September.
Picking now.
Haralson
The best available for baking and the crowd favorite tart flavored apple. This medium to large fruit is a staple of the Minnesota varieties. It is the firmest and tartest out there. Find this one ripe in early October.
Picking now.
Regent
Ready in early October this is the jack of all trades apple. With a firm texture close to Haralson and a flavor that can be tart or sweet based on when it is picked. Medium sized, it keeps well, great for eating, cooking, and baking.
Picking now.
Fireside\Connell Red
Almost identical except in size. They are juicy, firm, and sweet. Find these apples ready in early October. Good eating apple, very large in size making it a good pie maker. The milder flavor also lends itself to use in a salad.
Pick your own has ended.
Pre-picked Fireside is available.
Keepsake
A late October variety this one is another all-around useful apple. Small to medium size, very firm with a sugar cane flavor. As the name implies it will stay fresh in storage for longer than any other apple with reports of up to a full year.
Picking now.
Coming Soon?
The orchard is constantly changing. As old trees make way for new, some varieties stay, and some get replaced. Keep an eye out for the Triumph apple. In a few short years it will be ready for picking with the Zestar!