Apples - Culinary Uses and Pollinators

***Crabapple, Manchurion – Blooms early and through midseason.  A flowering crab used to pollinate most other apple varieties. The white flower is a very prolific pollen producer. 

Ambrosia Apples -  Low in acidity.  Has a distinctive, honey-sweet juiciness.  Famous for their sweet, rich taste.  Ambrosia apples are excellent for baking. Are most delicious when fresh, and have the added benefit of being slow-to-brown, making them perfect for charcuterie boards and fresh salads.  (Baking, Salads, Garnish, Smoothies, Apple sauce, Snacking)  Pollinate with Golden Delicious.

Arkansas Black - Today, Arkansas Black apples are usually kept in the refrigerator for at least 30 days before they are eaten or used. They can keep up to 8 months. They are reported to have an excellent natural cider flavor and are a favorite for apple pies or homemade hard cider.  Pollinators included Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious.

Fuji - The sweetest apple.  High in natural sugars and have naturally low levels of acidity.  Fuji apples are used to make candy apples with chocolate or caramel coating.  Stew them, roast, or bake them into your favorite recipes.  (Snacking, Salads, Garnish, Baking, Apple pie, Apple crisp, Smoothies)  Pollinators include Gala, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious.

Gala Apples -  A popular choice all over the world, especially with kids because of their sweet taste.  the Gala apple keeps its shape well when cooked, and can be used in a variety of different recipes that call for sweet apples.  (Snacking, Salads, Garnish, Juicing, Baking, Apple pie, Apple crisp)  Pollinate with Golden or Red Delicious.

Gibson Golden -  Has a vigorous fruit production. Apples are yellow with smooth skin, with a sweet juicy flavor. Is a great fresh eating apple. Gibson is a self-pollinator, but has a higher yield if pollinated with Granny Smith.

Golden Delicious -  Exceptionally sweet and sugary when allowed to ripen on the tree. These are among the sweetest yellow-green apples, as many other apples with green peels can be quite tart. A sweet tasting apple that is great to put into desserts or salads.  Freezes well too.  (Eating whole, Salads, Sandwich garnish, Apple juice, Apple cider, Smoothies, Cheese platters, Baking)  Pollinators include Fuji, Granny Smith, Red Delicious/Golden.

Granny Smith - They are tart and tangy, which makes them very popular for baking. Perfect for dipping in sweet caramel sauce. One of the best apples for apple pie.  Pollinators are Golden Delicious and Red Delicious.

Hardy Cumberland -  Hardy Cumberland apples are firm, crunchy, and sweet with moderately low acidity.  Juicy and sweet with mild flavor.  Dessert apple, but also a good cooking apple that holds its shape.  Can be used for cider.  Excellent storage qualities.

Honeycrisp -  One of the few varieties of apples that naturally have high levels of both sugars and acids.  Crunchy in texture and satisfying to eat. Honeycrisp apples are juicy with a refreshing sweetness similar to fresh apple cider. They maintain their sweet flavor even when cooked.  Remove the skin and slow cook slices to make applesauce, apple butter and preserves.  Also, good for raw dishes such as salads and coleslaw.  (Snacking, Salads, Garnish, Juicing, Baking, Apple pie, Apple crisp)  Pollinators are Gala and Granny Smith.

Pink Lady apples are very firm, and exude a tart flavor and effervescent finish.  Pink Lady apples are the only truly pink apples on the market and were the first apples with a trademark!  (Snacking, Salads, Baking, Cooking)  Pollinate with Fuji and Granny Smith.

Red Delicious -  A mixture of sweet and tart.  An excellent choice for snacking and for adding to fruit salads.  (Eating whole, Salads, Sandwich garnish, Juices, Smoothies)  Pollinate with Golden Delicious or Gala.