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Virginia Apple Industry

Take Your Pick

Apple Varieties

Apple Orchard

Virginia Apple Varieties

Virginia Apple Industry Charlottesville VA Apple Board
Virginia Apple Industry Charlottesville VA Apple Board

Albemarle Pippin  Black Twig Crimson Crisp  Cripps Pink   

EverCrisp  Fuji Gala  Ginger Gold Golden Delicious

GoldRush  Granny Smith Harrison Hewes Crab  

Honeycrisp Jonagold Jonathan McIntosh

Red Delicious  Rome Stayman York 

Virginia Apple Industry Charlottesville VA Apple Board

Click on each apple below to learn more about the apple variety!

( please note: not all apple varieties have further information )

Thanks to Virginia's geographically diverse climate, landscape and agricultural regions, apple season begins in late July and peaks in October and November, with apple festivals and on-farm events taking place across the Commonwealth. Consumers can continue to source Virginia Apples at local markets, farm stands, and farmers' markets through April.

Virginia Apple Orchards

Old-time apple mainly grown for Cider. Firm, complex, and somewhat tart. Requires storage to develop properly. One of the best keeping apples.

 

Orchard Availability:

October

Albemarle Pippin
Virginia Apple Industry

Sharp, tannic taste that mellows to a sweeter flavor after storage. Use in baked goods, a sauce for meats, in salads, etc. Historically used as a cider apple, favored for the high tannin content adding complexity to blends.

Best used for:

Meats, Sauce, Baking

​

Orchard Availability:

October

Back Twig
Cripps Pink Lady
Virginia Apple Industry

Crisp bite with a sweet-tart flavor. Great eating fresh and for making juice or cider.

Best used for:

Snacking, Cider, Juice​

​

Orchard Availability:

September

Virginia Apple Industry Charlottesville VA Apple Board

Cripps Pink (Pink Lady)

Mostly tarte with a hint of sweetness Its white flesh is slow to oxidize, making it great for packing in lunch bags or entertaining.

Best used for:

Salad, Sauce, Baking

​

Orchard Availability:

November

Crimson Crisp
Ever Crisp
Virginia Apple Industry

Ever Crisp

Sweet, juicy and firm. This is a great apple for snacking and salads.

Best used for:

Snacking, Salad​

 

Orchard Availability:

November

Fuji

Very firm and unusually sweet. Red and green with stripes. First discovered in Japan, a favorite in Virginia.

Best used for:

Pie, Salad, Sauce, Baking

​

Orchard Availability:

November

Gala

Sweet and very flavorful. A favorite for snacks and salads.

Best used for:

Salad, Sauce

​

Orchard Availability:

August

Outstanding early season apple, fresh from the orchard. Sweet, juicy and firm.

Best used for:

Pie, Salad, Sauce, Baking

​

Orchard Availability:

August

Gingegold
Virginia Apple Industry

Sweet and mellow. Excellent for snacking, salads and cooking purposes.

Best used for:

Pie, Salad, Sauce, Baking

​

Orchard Availability:

September

Golden Delicious

The famous green apple. Very firm, tart and juicy. Excellent for eating fresh and cooking purposes, especially pies.

Best used for:

Pie, Salad, Sauce, Baking

​

Orchard Availability:

October

Granny Smith

Crisp, Sweet and juicy. Great for eating fresh. Also for cooking and baking, retains it’s firmness.

Best used for:

Pie, Salad, Sauce, Baking

​

Orchard Availability:

October

GoldRush
Virginia Apple Industry

One of the finest apples for cider, making a thick, almost viscous juice with intense apple flavor.

Best used for:

Cider
​

Orchard Availability:

October

Virginia Apple Industry

One of the earliest American cider apples, and still one of the best cider crab apples today. It produces a clear, dry, full-bodied cider which is excellent by itself or used in a blend.

Best used for:

​Cooking Blend​

​

Orchard Availability:

September

Hewes Crab
Harrison
Honeycrisp
Virginia Apple Industry Charlottesville VA Apple Board

Honeycrisp

Ultra crisp and juicy, honey sweet, with a touch of tart. Great to eat out of hand, also good for salads, sauces and baking.

Best used for:

Pie, Salad, Sauce, Baking

​

Orchard Availability:

August

Moderately tart. Delicious for snacking, salads and cooking.

Best used for:

Pie, Salad, Sauce, Baking

​

Orchard Availability:

September

Jonagold
Virginia Apple Industry Charlottesville VA Apple Board

Jonagold

Firm, sweet and great for pies. Offers a unique honey-tart flavor and crispy, juicy, nearly yellow flesh.

Best used for:

Pie, Salad, Sauce, Baking

​

Orchard Availability:

September

Jonathan
Virginia Apple Industry Charlottesville VA Apple Board

McIntosh

Juicy and slightly tart. Great for eating fresh and baking.

Best used for:

Pie, Salad, Sauce, Baking

​

Orchard Availability:

August

McIntosh

Sweet and juicy. A favorite for snacks and salads.

Best for eating fresh out of hand.

Best used for:

Salad

​

Orchard Availability:

September

Red Delicious

Firm and slightly tart; one of the best cooking apples. They retain their shape and tart flavor when cooked.

Best used for:

Pie, Sauce, Baking

​

Orchard Availability:

October

Rome

Firm, rich flavor and mildly tart. Great all-purpose apple.

Best used for:

Pie, Salad, Sauce, Baking

​

Orchard Availability:

October

Stayman
Virginia Apple Industry

Crisp, firm and tart. Excellent for eating fresh and cooking purposes.

Best used for:

Snacking, Cooking

​

Orchard Availability:

October

York
Virginia Apple Industry
Virginia Apple Industry
Virginia Apple Industry
Virginia Apple Industry Charlottesville VA Apple Board

Apple varieties, orchard availability, and best apple uses presented in cooperation by The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Virginia Apple Growers Association.

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