Apple Varieties

	Beacon An old time apple, still found at Flinchbaugh's is similar to a McIntosh apple. Having a juicy, tangy tart taste makes it great for snacking, salads and applesauce. Look for Beacon to be harvested the beginning of August.
	Cameo This new apple with an old-world name was discovered as a chance seedling in the late 1980s in Washington state. Cameo makes its cameo appearance beginning in October. It bears red stripes over a cream-colored background. Extra-crispy Cameo has a sweet-tart taste. This apple resists browning, making it a natural choice for salads and fruit trays. Cooks, please note that Cameo's extra-denseness takes a bit longer to cook. A brand new apple to Flinchbaugh's Orchard.
	Cortland This variety originated in the late 1890s in New York state, a cross between McIntosh and Ben Davis developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Sweeter than its McIntosh parent, with only a hint of tartness. Cortland has tender, snow white flesh that resists browning, making it an excellent choice for salads, kabobs and garnishes. The Cortland is available September through April.
	Fuji Fuji is a cross between Ralls Janet and Red Delicious. This variety's popularity is skyrocketing, thanks to its sweet flavor and firmness. Fuji apples are bi-colored, typically striped with yellow and red. They are available year round, mid-October.
	Gala This variety originated in New Zealand, a cross between Kidd's Orange Red and Golden Delicious. The Royal Gala strain was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, who deemed it her favorite during a visit to New Zealand. It was brought to the United States in the early 1970s, and is now one of the country's most popular apples. This crispy, juicy, very sweet apple is ideal for snacking. Galas can vary in color, from cream to red- and yellow-striped. U.S.-grown Galas are harvested beginning in mid-September, and are typically available year-round.
	Ginger Gold A Virginia grower discovered this apple sprouting amid the ruins of a hurricane-devastated orchard in the late 1960s, and named this greenish-gold, sweet-tart apple after his sweetheart. Its parentage includes Albemarle Pippin, a favorite apple of Thomas Jefferson. This early-season Eastern apple is great for salads, and cooks well too. Available starting in mid-August.
	Golden Delicious This old favorite was discovered as a chance seedling in 1890 in Clay County, W.Va., and was originally named Mullin's Yellow Seedling. Renamed in 1916, its parents are thought to be Golden Reinette and Grimes Golden. Goldens have a pale yellow skin, sometimes with a red blush. Mellow and sweet, all-purpose Goldens are great for eating out of hand, baking and salads. Golden's crisp, pale yellow flesh resists browning, making it a good choice for salads and other dishes. Goldens appear on the market in mid-September, and are available year-round. Cooks, note that you can reduce the amount of added sugar when making pies with Goldens.
	Honeycrisp This honey of an apple has a honeyed, mild flavor and a crispness deemed explosive. Crispy, juicy and sweet, this popular newcomer is a cross between a Macoun and a Honeygold. Honeycrisp's skin is a distinctive mottled red over a yellow background, with coarse flesh. This apple is good for snacking, salads and sauce-making, and stores well. Honeycrisp is college educated, developed by the University of Minnesota. Harvested beginning in late September.
	Lodi The earliest apple of the season, Lodi is an old-fashioned transparent-type apple. It is cross between Montgomery and Yellow Transparent. Some say it is the world's best sauce apple! The beauty of the Lodi is that it cooks down so quickly. Great for making sauce in the microwave. They have a short season, beginning in late June ad sell fast, so be sure to grab a bag for sauce and apple pancakes.
	Red Delicious This most widely recognized of all U.S. apple varieties originated in Iowa in the 1870s. This sweet, crispy, juicy apple varies in color from striped red to solid midnight red. Western Red Delicious are elongated in shape, with pronounced "feet"; Eastern-grown Delicious are more round. This apple is best eaten fresh or in salads. Red Delicious apples are available year round, starting in September.
	Rome Beauty Referred to as the "baker's buddy," this apple was discovered as a chance seedling in the early 1800s on a farm near Rome Township, Ohio. Famed for its storage qualities, this mildly tart apple is primarily used for cooking and is especially good baked or sauted. The Rome apple is typically available beginning in Mid-October
	Summer Rambo This apple is of French origin and quite popular in the Pennsylvania area for its use as an excellent baking apple and applesauce. The fruit can be large and is often ribbed with unequal sides. Skin is greenish yellow washed with pink and carmine on the sun exposed side. The greenish yellow flesh is coarse, tender and very juicy. Summer Rambo becomes ripe for harvest in Early August.

Apple photos courtesy of New York Apple Association