Apple Varieties
Fruit Acres is home to about 20 different varieties of apple trees, both the modern and
old-fashioned apples. Our entire orchard is certified organic with MCIA.
old-fashioned apples. Our entire orchard is certified organic with MCIA.
How to pick the perfect apple
When you find an apple you like, lift the apple upwards and give it a little twist to release it from the tree. Don't pull the fruit down or shake the branch. Keeping the stem on the fruit will help it last longer.
Care and storage of your organic apples
Store your organic apples in the refrigerator, please! They do not continue to ripen after picked, and with proper storage you can help preserve the quality of the fruit. A lovely bowl on the table is nice for decoration or to remind you how tasty they are, but it is tough on organic apples that love to be cool and moist. Your apples will keep for several weeks, in cold storage.
Some varieties will soften as they age, but are still wonderful for cooking. If you have an old-fashioned cool-room, root cellar, or cold basement, that’s great too.
Paula Red
An early season apple, Paula Reds have a sweet-tart flavor well suited for raw and cooked preparations. The apples are best consumed raw early in the season, as the freshly picked fruits have a crisper, firmer consistency. They soften as they age, making them a great variety for applesauce.
Viking
The Viking is a medium sized summer apple with a very deep dark maroon to purple color. It is crisp, juicy, tart, and very aromatic. This apple has an outstanding flavor retention when cooked or baked, and makes the perfect apple for apple cider as well as applesauce. It is usually ready to pick in mid to late August.
Redfree
Red Free are a medium size apple with a shiny, bright red color over a majority of the fruit. Crisp and juicy, the taste is a mild balance of tart and sweet. Red Free are a great multi-purpose apple that works in baking, salads, and for fresh eating.
Tydeman's Red
A European dessert apple for fresh eating and juice. Tydeman has a mild, sweet-tart flavor with hints of strawberry and spice. It ripens early and has a relatively short shelf life. Best fresh and in salads, can also be pressed into ciders and dried into chips.
A specialty variety that arrived in the United States in 1945.
ZESTAR!®
This juicy, early season apple has flavor and crunch! It is sweet, crisp, and tangy, with a hint of brown sugar. Zestar! apples are delicious in pies and pastries, or enjoy them fresh with peanut butter for a salty, sweet treat. You will appreciate their exceptional extended storage life. They will maintain their sprightly flavor crisp texture in refrigeration for up to 2 months.
Zestar! apples were introduced by apple breeders at the University of Minnesota in 1999.
SweeTango®
An August fresh eating apple, the SweeTango is a cross between the sweet of a Zestar! and the crunch of a Honeycrisp.
Tokyo Rose
Also known as Akane, this heirloom variety is a favorite at the orchard. The Akane is an early season apple. It is bright red with a crisp white flesh, with a distinctive flavor and aroma. With a relatively short shelf life, best used as soon as possible. Eat fresh, add to a pie, or make a chunky applesauce.
State Fair
Mid August - September. This is a fresh eating apple with a sweet and spicy tang.
Honeycrisp
Honeycrisp apples are big, juicy, and sweet. A refreshing apple with a burst of flavor, they are crisp with a clean break when bitten. This delicious apple is great for eating, salads, and pies.
The Honeycrisp holds well in cold storage. Developed by apple breeders at the University of Minnesota, they were named Minnesota’s State Fruit in 2006 and is the state fruit of Minnesota.
Jonamac
Jonamacs are a delicious fresh eating apple, known for its undertones of honey or cherry, firm crisp texture, and perfect sweet/tart balance. As the name implies, it is a cross between a Jonathan and a Macintosh, but just a bit sweeter than a Mac.
Cortland
An old-fashioned dual purpose apple that originated in 1898. The Cortland apple is bright red, with a crisp white flesh that is incredibly juicy with a sweet-tart flavor. It boasts a sweet flavor with a bit of tartness like a McIntosh, but it is not as soft, making it a perfect fruit for baking. Its crisp interior holds up well after slicing, and best of all, the white flesh of the fruit is slow to brown even after being sliced or cut open.
Fireside
Firesides are recognized by their flaming red orange stripes, sweet flavor, and fine texture. They are generally large fruits and the bigger the better, and more intense flavor! Firesides are good for fresh eating, also good for pies, holds shape when baked. Used for making a sprightly apple sauce.
The Fireside is a mid season apple, harvested September to early October. It is long keeping in cold storage. Considered an old-fashioned variety, Firesides are a Minnesota apple introduced in 1943.
Regent
A good fresh eating apple. Also makes excellent pies. It holds its shape well when cooked. Makes a sweet and fruity sauce.
Northwest Greening
This variety originated in Wisconsin in 1872. (Some think that it is a cross between Golden Russet and Alexander.) A somewhat firm, dense, and crisp apple it is an excellent cooking apple for savory meals as well as baking. A mild flavor with hints of citrus and pear flavor.
Wealthy
Late August - September. A hearty, sweet eating apple.