Star Orchard - Apple Varieties

Apple varieties

We understand that with 55 acres of u-pick apples to choose from, you may not know where to start. So we invite you to learn a bit about the apples below.

All dates listed below are approximate, so check our homepage or our facebook page to see current availability.

Printable Apple Guide

Ambrosia (Mid September)

Crisp, sweet, and low acidity. Remains white for longer after cutting.

Black Twig (Late October)

Tart, firm, and juicy cider apple. Flavor enriches when refrigerated.

Blondee (Late August)

Crisp and juicy. Mild sweet with little or no acidity. Similar to Gala.

Chestnut (Late August)

Crisp, juicy, and very sweet firm flesh. A good cider apple.

Connell Red (Mid October)

Sweet mild flavor • Crisp juicy texture • Keeps well in storage • Good for eating and cooking

Cortland (Late September)

Sweet with a hint of tartness • Juicy, crisp, white flesh • Excellent for eating, salads, sauce, pies, freezing and baking • A terrific baking apple - use in pies, cobblers, and crisps • Resists browning • Retains quality for three to four months in refrigerated storage

Empire (Early October)

Juicy, firm, crunchy and sweet • Good for eating fresh • Retains quality for three to four months in refrigerated storage • Ideal lunch box apple

Gala (Mid September)

Sweet, juicy, with a mild flavor • Crisp, yellow flesh • Excellent for eating, applesauce, and salads • Thinner skin than most apples • Retains quality for two to three months in refrigerated storage

Ginger Gold (Late August)

Fine textured, sweet with a mild-tart finish. Similar to Golden Delicious.

Golden Delicious (Early October)

Firm, crisp and juicy • Keeps their shape when cooked - good for pies and tarts • Stays white longer when cut - good for salads • Tender skin - be gentle! We bruise easily • Retains quality for three to five months in refrigerated storage

Honeycrisp (In-Store Only - Late September)

Sweet yet slightly tart flavor • Explosive crunchiness! • Juicy • Long shelf life • Not available for Pick-Your-Own

Ida Red (Mid October)

Firm, crisp and juicy white flesh • Sweetly tart • Firm quality makes them good for baking • Flavor improves with storage • Keeps well in cold storage

Jonagold (Early October)

Aromatic with honey-like sweetness and moderate acidity • Crisp and juicy • A cross of Golden Delicious and Jonathon. Excellent for fresh eating, sauce, salads and baked goods • Retains quality for one to two months in refrigerated storage.

Mollies (Mid September)

Mild, sweet flavor • Crisp, coarse grained texture • Good for eating, cooking, canning and storing • Retains quality for 10 weeks or more in refrigerated storage. Be gentle! We bruise easily.

Macoun (Late September)

Firm, sweet, aromatic and juicy - similar to McIntosh in flavor • Good for eating, baking, sauce, and salads.

McIntosh (Late September)

Juicy, crispy, slightly tart • Well known for the pink applesauce the unpeeled fruit makes • Flesh cooks down quickly. Add a thickener if making a pie. • Retains quality for two or three months when refrigerated

Melrose (Mid October)

Firm, course, juicy flesh • Sweet-tart and slightly acidic flavor that becomes more flavorful and aromatic with age • Excellent choice for kitchen use, retaining its shape and flavor in the oven • In storage it develops a warm, fruity aroma

Northern Spy (Mid October )

Sweet-tart flavor with hints of pear • Tender-crisp, creamy yellow, juicy flesh • Keeps in cold storage well into Spring

Paula Red (Late August)

Sprightly taste, not too sweet and not too tart • Firm, fine grained • White flesh • Become extremely soft when cooked - good for sauce but not for pies • Short term storage

Red Delicious (Mid October)

Best for eating and in salads • Thin bright red skin with a mildly flavored fine-grained white flesh • Short term storage

Rome Beauty (Mid October)

A good cooking apple, retaining its shape when cooked.

Snow (Late September)

Tender, pure white flesh with a spicy refreshing flavor • Good for fresh-eating, cooking and cider

Summer Rambo (Late August)

Crisp, mildly tart flavor is great for sauce. Shorter storage life than other varieties.

Wealthy (Mid September - poor crop in 2021)

Juicy, crisp, sweet and tart strawberry-like flavor • Good for eating, baking, freezing and cider • At peak ripeness, the flavor is more sweet than tart, and the texture is soft without being mushy • Before it’s ripe, the pie flavor tends to be slightly tart • Retains quality for 3 months or more in refrigerated storage • Many old-timers say this is the best apple for pies

William's Pride (Late August)

Dark Red and moderately sour - sweetens with age • Firm, crisp and juicy • Good eating and dessert apple • Medium to coarse texture • Retains quality for 6 weeks or more in refrigerated storage

Wolf River (Late September)

Moderately tart • Tender and juicy • Good for baking, sauce, apple butter, and drying

Zestar (Early September)

Sweet-tart balance with brown sugar overtones • Light, crisp and juicy • Excellent for fresh eating, pies, bars and sauces. When kept at room temperature, the spicy and sweet flavors will increase. Be gentle! We bruise very easily.