A Taste of Minnesota’s EMILY HOOVER, EMILY TEPE, DAVID BEDFORD, JIM LUBY

Autumn in Minnesota brings apples! While is the star of the show, it’s not the only great you’ll find at local orchards and farmer’s markets. Seek out a cultivar you’ve never tried before to experience the diversity of colors, flavors, and textures of apples grown in Minnesota. If you just can’t get enough, try growing your own! USDA Hardiness Zones are included for each cultivar to help you choose the right trees for your yard. Cultivars are arranged by harvest date.

FAVORED REFRIGERATED TREE CULTIVAR HARVEST FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS USES STORAGE LIFE HARDINESS *FIRST KISS™/ Mid- to late Medium size. Scarlet red. Very crisp Fresh Up to 5 months Zone 4a RAVE® August and extremely juicy. Balanced tart (trees not flavor. sold to home growers) * Mid- to late Medium size. Bright red. Soft Pie, sauce, 1-3 weeks Zone 3b August texture. Sweet, aromatic flavor. fresh

*STATE FAIR Mid- to late Medium size with red stripes. Crisp, Pie, fresh 2-4 weeks Zone 3b August juicy, moderately tart.

*ZESTAR!® Late August to Large size. Rosy red. Crunchy, juicy, Fresh, pie Up to 2 months Zone 3b early with balanced sweet-tart flavor. September PAULA RED Late August to Medium size. Bright red with yellow Fresh, sauce, 2-4 weeks Zone 4a early spots. Firm, juicy, sweet-tart. pie September *MINNEISKA/ Early Medium-large size. Deep red. Fresh, pie 2-4 weeks Zone 4b SWEETANGO® September Crunchy, juicy, sweet-tart, with a (trees not hint of spice. sold to home growers) + Early Medium size, with red stripes. Fresh, sauce, 2-4 weeks Zone 4a September Moderately tart. pie

*CHESTNUT Early Large crabapple with russetted skin. Fresh, sauce 4-5 weeks Zone 3a CRAB September Rich, intense, nutty flavor.

*RED BARON Mid- Medium size. Red and yellow skin. Sauce, fresh 4-5 weeks Zone 3b September Juicy, sweet, mild flavor.

MCINTOSH Mid- Medium size. Red and green skin. Fresh, sauce 4-6 weeks Zone 4a September Sweet-tart flavor. Softer texture.

FREEDOM September Large size. Bright red. Crisp, juicy, Fresh, pie Up to 4 months Zone 3b sweet. Very resistant to scab.

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A Taste of Minnesota’s Apples, continued

FAVORED REFRIGERATED TREE CULTIVAR HARVEST FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS USES STORAGE LIFE HARDINESS *SWEET Mid- to late Medium to large size. Rosy red skin. Fresh, pie Up to 2 months Zone 3b SIXTEEN September Crisp, juicy, very sweet with spicy, cherry candy flavor. *HONEYCRISP Late Extremely juicy and “explosively Fresh 6-8 months Zone 3b September crisp”. Well-balanced, sweet-tart flavor. Slow to brown when cut. * Late Medium size. Yellow-green to Fresh, pie 2-3 months Zone 4a September golden. Crisp, juicy, sweet.

CORTLAND Late Medium size. Crimson skin. Sweet- Fresh, pie Up to 2 months Zone 4a September to tart, aromatic flavor. Slow to brown early October when cut. NORTHWEST Late Large size. Green to yellow. Tart Pie, sauce Up to 3 months Zone 4a GREENING September to flavor. early October */ Late Medium size. Red stripes. Firm Pie, fresh 4-5 months Zone 3b HARALRED September to texture, full-flavored, tart. Haralred early October is a redder form of Haralson. *FR