Since the apple breeding program began at the University of Minnesota in 1878, 29 apple varieties have been released. Some University-developed varieties are no longer available, so we have listed all the current U of M varieties, many of which you can purchase from local nurseries and orchards.

Early Season Apples

Beacon apples

Beacon

  • Bright red apple with soft, juicy flesh and a slightly tart flavor
  • The tree is hardy, vigorous and susceptible to fire blight
  • Ripens mid- to late August

Centennial crabapple

Centennial Crabapple

  • Large, red over orange crabapple that is excellent for fresh eating and sauce, but does not store well
  • The tree is very hardy, even in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 3
  • Ripens mid- to late August

Rave apples. Sold as First Kiss apples in Minnesota.

Rave® and First Kiss®

  • Extraordinarily juicy, this spritely tart and deeply colored apple ripens early but will store for up to five months post-harvest
  • The First Kiss® name identifies Minnesota grown fruit
  • Hardy to Zone 4A
  • Ripens mid- to late August

State fair apples

State Fair

  • Striped red, juicy, moderately tart fruit good for eating and cooking
  • The fruit will store for 2 to 4 to weeks
  • The tree is susceptible to fire blight and somewhat prone to biennial bearing
  • Ripens mid- to late August

SweeTango apple

SweeTango®

  • Juice and sweet with hints of fall spices, and deep red coloration over a yellow breaking background
  • This apple's flavor, balanced by vibrant acidity, inherited the crisp texture of Honeycrisp and the juiciness of Zestar!®
  • Ripens early September

Zestar! apples

Zestar!®

  • Large, crunchy, juicy red fruit with a sprightly sweet-tart flavor
  • Excellent for both fresh eating and cooking. The fruit will store for 6 to 8 weeks
  • The tree is vigorous, upright and very susceptible to apple scab
  • Ripens late August to early September

Mid-Season Apples

Chestnut crabapples

Chestnut Crabapple

  • Large, russeted crabapple with a rich, nutty flavor
  • Best for fresh eating or sauce
  • The fruit stores for 4 to 5 weeks
  • Ripens early September

Red Baron apples

Red Baron

  • Medium-size red and yellow apple with juicy flesh and a mild sweet flavor
  • Good for fresh eating with a storage life of 4 to 5 weeks
  • The tree is hardy and resistant to fire blight
  • Ripens mid-September

Sweet Sixteen apple

Sweet Sixteen

  • Crisp and juicy with an exotic yellow flesh and a very sweet, unusual sugar cane or spicy cherry candy flavor
  • The fruit stores for 5 to 8 weeks
  • The tree is very vigorous and fruit may be subject to premature drops
  • Ripens mid- to late September

Triumph apples

Triumph®

Limited Tree Availability, Fruit Expected in 2025

  • Medium sized red fruit with a well-balanced flavor that is pleasantly tart
  • The tree has medium vigor, good fruit adherence and excellent scab resistance and good shelf life
  • A great option for direct market and organic producers
  • Ripens late September

Honeycrisp apples

Honeycrisp

  • Large, dappled red fruit with a well-balanced flavor, outstanding crispness, and juiciness
  • Best for fresh eating and salads as the flesh is slow to brown
  • The tree has low to medium vigor and excellent scab resistance
  • Fruit will easily store 7 or more months, a benefit for small commercial growers
  • Ripens late September

2 Kudos apples on a tree

Kudos®

Limited Tree Availability, Fruit Expected in 2026

  • Excellent crisp, juicy texture and a sweet, well balanced flavor with occasional tropical overtones
  • Attractive, red fruit
  • Fruit stores up to 5 months in common storage
  • Ripens late September; similar to Honeycrisp or up to 1 week later

Late Season Apples

Honeygold apples

Honeygold

  • Golden to yellow-green fruit that is sweet, crisp, and juicy
  • Excellent for fresh eating and also good for cooking
  • The fruit will store for 2 to 3 months
  • The tree is easy to manage but susceptible to fire blight
  • Ripens late September

Haralson apples

Haralson

  • Firm texture with a complex tart flavor
  • Good for fresh eating and cooking, especially good pie apple
  • The fruit will store for 4 to 5 months
  • The tree is of low vigor and easily trained
  • Tends to be biennial bearing
  • Fruit may be prone to watercore and russeting
  • Ripens late September to early October

Frostbite apples

Frostbite™

  • Intensely sweet, firm and juicy flesh
  • Stripped maroon-red and gold-yellow, 2 1/2" diameter fruit
  • Fruit may be prone to russeting
  • Excellent for cider
  • Ripens late September to mid-October

Regent apples

Regent

  • Appealing red-striped apple with a well-balanced flavor that is good for eating and cooking
  • The fruit will store for 4 to 5 months
  • Tree is moderately vigorous and easily trained
  • Susceptible to apple scab and of moderate hardiness
  • Ripens early to mid-October

SnowSweet apples

SnowSweet®

  • Savory, sweet tasting apple, with a slight tart balance and rich overtones
  • Amazingly slow to turn brown when cut
  • Appealing, large, bronze-red blush fruit
  • Excellent for fresh eating, snack trays, and salads
  • Ripens mid-October

Fireside/Connell Red apple

Fireside/Connell Red

  • Very large fruit with a sweet flavor and fine-grained flesh good for fresh eating, salad, and baked apples
  • The tree is vigorous and weeping
  • Ripens mid-October

Keepsake apple

Keepsake

  • Very hard and crisp with yellow flesh and an exotic sweet, spicy flavor
  • Good for fresh eating and cooking
  • The fruit will store for 6 months
  • The tree is of medium vigor and easy to manage
  • Ripens mid-October

Prairie Spy apples

Prairie Spy

  • Large, firm, dense fruit that is excellent for baking and long-term storage
  • The tree is very vigorous and productive
  • Ripens late October