With apple harvest season underway across Illinois, the conversation explores the incredible variety of apples available, how modern apple trees are grown, how long apples can be stored, and which varieties are best for snacking, baking, and preserving.
Apple harvest in the local area began in late August and is expected to continue through roughly the end of October, depending on weather conditions. That makes September and October prime time for finding fresh, locally grown apples.
Thousands of Apple Varieties
While grocery stores typically carry around a dozen or so familiar apple varieties, there are approximately 7,500 apple varieties grown worldwide. About 2,500 of those varieties are grown in the United States.
Some of the varieties commonly found in local grocery stores include Gala, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Rocket, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Fuji, Cosmic Crisp, Envy, Jonathan, Ambrosia, and Golden Delicious.
One of the more unusual varieties discussed is the Rocket apple. These small, golf-ball-sized apples were introduced around 2020 or 2021 and are marketed as a convenient lunchbox apple. Their small size makes them particularly easy for children to eat, while their crisp texture and sweet flavor make them appealing for snacking.
How New Apples Are Created
The enormous number of apple varieties is possible in part because of how apple trees are pollinated and propagated.
Apple trees require pollination from different varieties. When pollen from two different varieties combines, the resulting seeds can produce apples with new characteristics. Those seedlings can then be evaluated for qualities such as flavor, texture, appearance, and disease resistance.
Once a desirable apple is identified, growers can graft it onto rootstock. This allows growers to control the eventual size of the tree while also improving growth and disease management.
A wild or seed-grown apple tree can reach roughly 40 feet tall. Modern apple trees, however, can be much smaller depending on the rootstock used, with trees ranging from approximately 8 to 20 feet.
This difference is particularly noticeable in newer orchards, where smaller trees may be grown along trellises. Older orchards often contain the larger, sprawling trees that were more common before modern growing techniques became widespread.
Why Apple Harvesting Has Changed
Smaller apple trees have also made harvesting more efficient.
Historically, harvesting apples from tall trees required long ladders, or growers would sometimes allow apples to fall before collecting them. However, falling fruit can become bruised, which shortens its storage life.
Bruising can accelerate the production of ethylene, a natural plant hormone involved in ripening and aging. Modern orchard practices are designed to reduce bruising and protect the quality of the fruit.
How Long Can Apples Last?
The length of time an apple can be stored depends heavily on its storage conditions.
In a typical household refrigerator, apples can generally last for one to two months. A cool, dark basement or cellar can extend that period to roughly three to six months.
Commercial storage facilities can preserve apples for much longer. Under carefully controlled, low-oxygen conditions, apples can remain in storage for approximately 12 to 24 months.
That means some apples found in grocery stores during late summer may have come from the previous year’s harvest. Once the new harvest begins, however, locally available apples and newly harvested grocery-store apples begin to take center stage.
Finding the Right Apple
Not every apple is designed for the same purpose.
Some varieties are excellent for eating fresh, while others are better suited for baking, making cider or preserving through canning, freezing, jams and jellies.
Gala apples, Zestar apples and Sweet Maia apples are among the early-season varieties available in the area. The conversation also highlights the upcoming Cortland apple, which can work particularly well for baking.
Pink Lady apples offer a crisp texture with a balance of tartness and sweetness. For those who prefer a more tart apple, they can provide a different experience from sweeter varieties.
Honeycrisp remains a popular choice for fresh eating, but growing the variety can be challenging. The trees can be particularly susceptible to insect problems, diseases, and issues related to temperature and growth. Producing the large, blemish-free Honeycrisp apples consumers expect requires considerable management in the orchard.
The Cosmic Crisp Advantage
Another variety gaining attention is the Cosmic Crisp.
One of its notable characteristics is its resistance to browning after being cut. Many apples quickly turn brown when exposed to oxygen, making them less appealing when packed in a lunchbox or prepared ahead of time.
Cosmic Crisp apples brown much more slowly, making them a convenient option for slicing in advance. They are also notably large, with individual apples sometimes weighing around half a pound.
For families looking for an apple that can provide multiple servings while holding its appearance after being cut, the Cosmic Crisp offers an interesting option.
An Apple Tasting Experience
With thousands of varieties available, apples offer an opportunity for tasting and experimentation much like wine.
Apple tastings can focus on characteristics such as sweetness, acidity, texture, aroma, and even subtle flavor notes. Some varieties can have floral characteristics, while others may have flavors reminiscent of brown sugar or other familiar foods.
That variety is one reason visiting an apple orchard can be more interesting than simply picking up a familiar bag of apples at the grocery store.
The Sauk Valley and surrounding region also offer opportunities to visit apple orchards during the fall. Many combine apple picking with other seasonal activities, including pumpkins, fresh cider, baked goods, and apple cider donuts.
For anyone who has always reached for the same variety, apple season provides an opportunity to try something new.
The History of the Red Delicious
The Red Delicious apple has long been a familiar sight in grocery stores and school lunches, but its history is more complicated than its name might suggest.
The variety became a staple because of its storage qualities, nutritional value, and familiarity. Over time, however, selective breeding placed significant emphasis on appearance and other characteristics, changing the eating experience associated with the apple.
Despite its reputation among some consumers as a softer or mealy apple, Red Delicious remains an important part of apple history and has also contributed to the development of other varieties.
Ultimately, choosing an apple comes down to personal preference and what the apple will be used for.
Celebrate Apple Season
With fall arriving in the Sauk Valley, apple season provides another reason to get outside and visit local orchards.
From small lunchbox apples to giant Cosmic Crisps, tart Pink Ladies and baking-friendly Cortlands, the world of apples is much bigger than the handful of varieties most shoppers see at the grocery store.
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