Apples


There are over 2,500 apple varieties grown in the United States and each has its own unique flavor and best uses. Don't be afraid to experiment. Your "favorite variety" may be one you haven't tasted yet!

Apples are a fat free, cholesterol free, no sodium food and provide a good source of vitamins.

Click here for some great Apple recipes

Usage Chart

Variety
Flavor
Texture
Fresh & Salad
Pie
Sauce
Baking
Red Delicious
Sweet
Crisp
Excellent
Fair
Fair
Poor
Golden Delicious
Sweet
Tender
Excellent
Excellent
Very Good
Very Good
Granny Smith
Tart
Crisp
Very Good
Very Good
Very Good
Very Good
Gala
Slightly Sweet
Slightly Crisp
Excellent
Very Good
Fair
Very Good
Fuiji
Sweet
Crisp
Excellent
Good
Fair
Very Good
Jonagold
Sweet
Slightly Crisp
Excellent
Very Good
Fair
Excellent
Braeburn
Slightly Tart
Crisp
Very Good
Excellent
Good
Very Good
Cripps Pink
Sweet Tart
Crisp
Excellent
Very Good
Excellent
Very Good
Honey Crisp
Sweet Tart
Extra Crisp
Excellent
Excellent
Good
Very Good

Varieties

Red Delicious: America’s favorite snacking apple. The heart shaped fruit is bright red & sometimes stripped. They are crunchy with mildly sweet flavors. They are great in salads. They are harvested in September & October & available throughout the year. It’s a classic!

Golden Delicious: Mellow & sweet, Goldens are great for eating out of the hand, in baking and in salads. Their flesh stays white longer than other apples when used in salads and other dishes. They are harvested in September & are available all year. They are an all-purpose apple!
Granny Smith: Green, tart, crisp, juicy and very versatile. They are a favorite apple among pie bakers. They are available all year long and make an excellent snack or are great for salads
Gala: Pink & orange stripes over a yellow background are the signature look of this crisp snappy apple. Snacking & salads are it’s primary usages. In the past 15 years, it has gained popularity. They are harvested in August and are stocked September through May.
Fuji: It is best known for its hard texture and syrupy sweetness. It was introduced to the U.S from Japan in the 1980’s. It is excellent for baking and in salads. It holds its texture when baked. Fujis are harvested in October and are stocked October to August.
Jonagold: Excellent for snacking, cooking and making great pies, this orange-tinted apple has a juicy, tangy sweet flavor. It is harvested in September and stocked September through April.
Braeburn: Aromatic, juicy, crisp and firm. Color varies from orange to red over a yellow background. This apple's rich, sweet-tart spicy flavor is highly-impactful. Braeburns are great for both snacking and backing. They are harvested in September & October and are stocked October through July.
Cripps Pink: This apple is firm, crisp with a unique tangy-tart sweet flavor. It receives high marks for snacking and baking. Cripps Pink are harvested in late October and are available November to August.
Honey Crisp: Red and Yellow in color, this crisp and sweet apple can be frozen, used in salads and sauces, and is perfect for snacking. Honey Crisp apples can be used for baking, but are not recommended for use in pies.

Care & Handling

Availability - Green Giant® Fresh Apples are available year around.

Selection - Select apples that have been cold for maximum freshness. Apples should be firm to the touch; if they dent easily they probably won't be the best to eat. Apples should be rich in color with their skins appearing tight, unbroken, and without bruises. Do not be scared by brown freckles or streaks as these are characteristics of apples.

Storage - It is best to store apples in cold temperatures to keep them from ripening. Apples are best kept in plastic bags in the refrigerator and can be kept fresh for up to six weeks. Check often since one rotten apple can spoil the rest.

Preparation - Always wash apples before eating. To prevent apples from turning brown when sliced, rub cut or peel surfaces with a mixture of lemon juice and water, or drop the apple slices into cold water that contains a touch of lemon juice.

Cooking - When making sauce, select apples that break into pieces and loose their shape when cooking. Once boiled, mash the apples to consistency desired. The best apples to cook with include Golden Delicious and Jonagolds.

Freezing - Core and slice apples. Dip apples into a mixture of water and lemon juice to preserve color before placing them in a freezer-safe container.