Red Delicious
Available as:
Stemilt & Artisan Organics
Facts of Interest: This popular variety is commonly called America's favorite snacking apple. It was discovered in 1874 as a chance seedling growing on a farm owned by Jesse Hiatt in Peru, Iowa. Thinking it was a nuisance, Hiatt tried to chop down the seedling, but the tree grew back repeatedly. On the third time, Hiatt allowed it to grow and the tree produced red apples.
Hiatt originally called the seedling variety Hawkeye. He displayed the apples in 1893 at a fruit show in Louisiana, Missouri, sponsored by the Stark Brothers Nursery. The Stark brothers purchased the propagation rights to the apple and commercialized the variety, renaming it Red Delicious.
Since then, Red Delicious has become the flagship variety of the Washington apple industry. It grows better in Eastern Washington's dry climate than in any other location in the world. Red Delicious production has declined in recent years as more apple varieties have been introduced. However, Red Delicious is still considered a favorite among apple buyers for its sweet flavor, firmness, and long shelf life.
Characteristics
Appearance:
Deep to bright red, sometimes slightly striped
Texture & Firmness:
Very crisp
Internal Character:
White or buff-colored
Flavor:
Strong sweet presence and only a few notes of acidity
Shape:
An elongated shape with five points or knobs on the end; often described as heart-shaped
Size:
Medium to large
Uses:
Great for fresh eating and salads
Artisan Organics is Stemilt’s banner for organic tree fruits. This label adorns all packaging and price look-up (PLU) stickers on Stemilt’s organic apples, pears, cherries and stone fruits.
Stemilt began major investments in organic tree fruit production back in 1989. At the time, farming organically on a large-scale was unheard of, since there were so few organic applications available. Despite the challenges, Stemilt founder Tom Mathison knew there was potential for organics in the marketplace and continued preparing Stemilt for future growth.
Because of Tom’s foresight, Stemilt gradually increased its organic presence, and today, is one of the nation’s leading shippers of organic tree fruits. Try Artisan Organics for a unique flavor experience that only natural farming methods can deliver!
Check out our Organic Leader page to learn more about what makes Stemilt a standout in the organic field!
Check out our Organic Leader page to learn more about what makes Stemilt a standout in the organic field!
Stemilt’s World Famous apples are terrific for many reasons. The first is our area’s perfect conditions for producing apples. Central Washington is known for having sunny days, cool nights, plentiful water and nutrient-rich soils – all things that apples need to develop the perfect shape, color and flavor.
Our rich farming heritage means that Stemilt apples are produced by generations of apple experts that understand how to grow different varieties and strains. Finally, endless quality checks by our growers and field staff ensures that every apple meets Stemilt’s strict quality expectations.