Tree Type: Dessert/Cider
Harvesting Date: Late October
Location: Salem Twp, MI (F)
Approximate Tree Age: 30 years
Tree Status: Chance seedling, likely
Possible Tree Varieties: A very conventional appearance and flavor make this young-tree a bit of a mystery. The fruit is large enough to be a tryploid variety, and yet the tree's location is mysteriously rural. It is on a steep slope, and we didn't check the top of the hill so it is possible it is an orchard escapee and we were just ignorant of the orchard... It could be a greensleeves, northwest greening or even a grimes golden, but is certainly too acidic and not floral enough to be a golden delicious.
Fruit size: Large 4"
Shape: Round-oblong
Fruit color: Pale, golden yellow with a shy orange/salmon blush and stem-well russeting and slight russetting overall
Skin: Medium, but easy to eat
Flesh: Light yellow with a slight orange cast in some fruits, dense and fine grained
Additional notes on appearance: Each lenticel on these apples seems to have an almost russeted bit of skin around it. The rest of the skin has faint russeting as well, but not so much to create the gritty russety texture that many consumers dislike.
Taste: Tart, acidic and spritely, it reminded us both of a sweetened (somewhat cidery) granny smith. Balanced tannin, despite high acidity.
Texture: Crunchy and crisp, with dense, fine grain.
Additional notes on taste: This apple is definitely for consumers who like their apples to bite back, but it's strong, cidery and vinous flavors balance the acidity for some of the biggest, boldest taste I've ever experienced in an apple.
Disease/Pest notes: Despite being overgrown and crowded, these apples had very little fungal infection and showed almost no signs of pest infestation. Hooray for russeting genes!
