The Awful Reign of the Red Delicious

[KamaAina]

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/09/the-evil-reign-of-the-red-delicious/379892/

Burford, who is 79 years old, is disinclined to apple destruction. His ancestors scattered apple seeds in the Blue Ridge foothills as far back as 1713, and he grew up with more than 100 types of trees in his backyard orchard. He is the author of Apples of North America, an encyclopedia of heirloom varieties, and travels the country lecturing on horticulture and nursery design. But his preservationist tendencies stop short of the Red Delicious and what he calls the “ramming down the throats of American consumers this disgusting, red, beautiful fruit.”

His words contain the paradox of the Red Delicious: alluring yet undesirable, the most produced and arguably the least popular apple in the United States. It lurks in desolation. Bumped around the bottom of lunch bags as schoolchildren rummage for chips or shrink-wrapped Rice Krispies treats. Waiting by the last bruised banana in a roadside gas station, the only produce for miles. Left untouched on hospital trays, forlorn in the fruit bowl at hotel breakfast buffets, bereft in nests of gift-basket raffia.

For at least 70 years, the Red Delicious has dominated apple production in the United States. But since the turn of the 21st century, as the market has filled with competitors—the Gala, the Fuji, the Honeycrisp—its lead has been narrowing. Annual output has plunged. And even still, a gap is growing between supply and demand from American consumers. Earlier this month, Todd Fryhover, the president of the Washington Apple Commission—whose growers produce the majority of apples in the United States—recommended that this harvest, up to two-thirds of the state’s Red Delicious yield be exported.

How did such an unlikeable apple become the most ubiquitous in the country? And as its dominion here ends, where will it invade next?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

1. Gimme a Fuji or even a granny smith

Will not eat red delicious

[In_The_Wind]

2. We don't buy Red Delicious Apples because other apples taste better.

[antiquie]

3. The apple tree that wouldn't die...

Fresh Red Delicious Apples

The Red Delicious apple variety was discovered in 1875 as a chance seedling growing on Jesse Hiatt’s farm 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 produce apples.

In 1893, Hiatt took his apple, called Hawkeye, to a fruit show in Missouri.

[caraher]

4. For the first two decades of my life that's what I thought apples were, period

"Awful reign" is right. Those things are at the bottom of my apple list, yet I grew up eating them and thinking they were OK.

[magical thyme]

5. red delicious = bad taste and texture. give me a mac, a macoun or a honeycrisp

now THOSE are apples

[redwitch]

41. My favorites too.

Crisp and sweet!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. For a long time that was about all you could find in grocery stores

except for tart pie apples like Haralsons. I never liked apples much as a kid, until I got a chance to eat something besides the Red Delicious. I now have a Honeycrisp tree and a Honeygold tree in my yard. Since I don't use pesticides the apples tend to get bug-eaten if I don't bag them, and unfortunately I didn't get a chance to bag more than a few of them this year - but I look forward to eating the good ones. Haralsons make the best pies, though.

Red "Delicious" - blehh.

[GoCubsGo]

7. Glad to hear they're on their way out.

I was never a fan of Red Delicious. They're tasteless and usually mealy. Yuk. I'm more a fan of Golden Delicious and its hybrids, like Johnagold and Gingergold. The only problem with them is that they're nearly always picked before they're ripe. So, they're almost as tasteless as their Red counterpart. I've been noticing this problem with a lot of the "popular" varieties, like Gala, too. Wish they'd leave them on the tree for another week or two.

That article makes me miss being in the Midwest. No apple orchards around here. So, no truly fresh apples, and no fresh, non-pasteurized cider. Of course, the orchard I used to go to as a kid is now a housing subdivision...

[DebJ]

17. You nailed it there: mealy. n/t

[rurallib]

8. We have a tree in the back yard and the red delicious are delicious off the tree

the ones we get in the store taste like cardboard.

[mackerel]

9. I absolutely adore apples. Put them in salads, sammies, slice them up and share them at work and

sometimes I'll just have cheese & apple slices for din din. Red Delicious is not my go to apple. I'm sure it was a lovely
apple years ago before it became over produced and all the life was taking out of it.

Variety is key. Braeburns, Honeycrips, Pink ladies, Gala, Cameo's and Granny Smith seemed to be what they stock here. My Father loved Pippins but I don't see them around these days.

[LiberalElite]

10. I thought I was the only one - I hate the Red Delicious - also the Golden Delicious -

calling them "delicious" is like a bad joke. Yes, export it!

[pipi_k]

11. Something changed

Since I was a kid. Every fall my parents would take us kids out for a drive along the Mohawk Trail to see the leaves and buy a big basket full of red delicious apples. They were great

Now they're grainy and tasteless


Yech


Eagerly awaiting the yearly appearance of the apple guy and his wife who sell their home grown apples in a rest area on a busy road into the city.

Winesaps and Macouns

Mmmmmmmm.

[DinahMoeHum]

12. Personally I prefer MacIntosh. . .

. . .the best for eating out-of-hand.

NY State apples rule!!

The more local your apples, the better

AFAIC, the Red Delicious was bred for "carrying quality" at the expense of taste.

[hedgehog]

19. NYS Apples, Peaches, blueberries and strawberries rule!

We live in an old fruit belt along the shores of Lake Ontario, and I tell you, we live on local fruit from mid-June to Halloween!

The only problem is that with Global Climate Change, it may soon b too warm here to grow Empires!

But I'm sure the good folks at Cornell are working on the next best thing!

[Populist_Prole]

27. Bingo. Another fan of the MacIntosh

[geardaddy]

29. I love Macs too.

I lived in the Finger Lakes and my favorite there was the Cortland.

[DinahMoeHum]

32. Love the Cortlands as well.

Especially the big fat ones, perfect for making apple sauce or pies.

[MizzM]

47. Cortland's - yum

Lived my whole life in the Boston area. Loved Mac's, Cortland's, and an occasional Grannie Smith in off season. Moved out to AZ a few years ago - where are my Mac's and Cortland's? Nowhere to be seen. I seem to have lost interest in the "alien" apples out here.

[kwassa]

13. I used to like them, but lost my taste for Red Delicious.

I grew up in northern Ohio eating local McIntosh apples, which my dad would buy by the bushel. I can't stand them anymore. Red Delicious was my first other variety. I got tired of them, too.

Mostly Gala, Fuji, and Pink Lady.

[fizzgig]

25. i love pink ladies

probably my favorite apple.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. I used to like Red Delicious, too, but they aren't any good anymore

I prefer Granny Smiths and Honeycrisp. In fact, I just bought my first Honeycrisps of the season.

[Ron Obvious]

15. Why are they so waxy?

These are the apples I associate with High School cafeterias, motel continental breakfast trays, hospitals, and vending machines. Nasty, cowardly, waxy things that taste like candles.

I suspect they're bred for longevity, and durability in shipping, not flavour.

[KamaAina]

16. Could they be coated in wax?

[love_katz]

38. "Nasty, cowardly, waxy things that taste like candles.'

Uh huh, that is exactly it. Yuk!

I usually buy Braeburns, Fuji's, or Granny Smiths.

Unlike some folks, I don't like Gala's either. Their taste is too flat for me. I like some tartness to my apples, and they should be both crisp and juicy.

Mis-named Red Delicious Fail.

[Blue_In_AK]

18. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

TERRIBLE apple. I won't eat them.

[Arugula Latte]

20. They are too often mealy. I never, ever buy them.

Honeycrisps are the Queen of Apples.

[KamaAina]

21. So I have heard.

I have yet to pony up the $$$ to try one.

[Arugula Latte]

22. Sometimes you can get them on sale.

Organic Honeycrisps are damn expensive, though.

[TK421]

24. Honeycrisps are my new favorite

I found out they taste even better when they're cold

Ever try them cold?

[Arugula Latte]

26. No but that's a good idea!

I'm going to refrigerate my next batch. Thanks!

[TK421]

34. it almost reminded me of a dessert, give it a try

You can thank me later, I'm the patient type











Kinda

[geardaddy]

30. Since they were developed here at the U of Minnesota

they're easily available and relatively cheap. They are indeed a good apple.

[TK421]

23. They have no flavor and I never liked them

[Populist_Prole]

28. Flavor's OK, but the thick leathery skin is gross

And if I need a knife to have to eat an apple, then the hell with it.

Advantage: MacIntosh.

[KamaAina]

31. You will note that there is no computer called the Red Delicious

[Populist_Prole]

36. True enough..........

[dr.strangelove]

33. I have never understood this, I love the Red Delicious

Granted I love all apples. Living in the brilliant apple growing climate that is the Hudson Valley of NY, we have red delicious and fuji trees on our land. But I love all of them. But the Red Delicious gets a bad rap. Its not a explosive a flavour as the Braeburn or the Granny Smith, but it has a very simple and pleasant taste. I enjoy them and have for years. My children love them too. I just don;t get it.

[logosoco]

35. They LOOK like apples, but they do not taste like apples.

Not even good enough for pies.

[kath]

37. I love Jonathans, but they've become hard to find. usually end up with Braeburns,

Honeycrisps are absolutely delicious, but pricy. love when they go on sale.

[RiffRandell]

39. Aaarrrggghhh!!!!

Guess what my kids' favorite apple is? The nasty RD.

Growing up in NE, we had a farm 5 minutes up the road to pick our apples.

I'm a Mac and Granny Smith girl except for that first tart bite of the GS that makes me close my eyes, pucker my lips and cheeks and HURTS like hell!

Believe it or not, they will eat a GS now and then, but love RD.

Don't get it, but at least they are eating a fruit.

[demmiblue]

40. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, and Mac in the Fall...

I haven't bought a RD in at least a decade.

[Piedras]

42. Apples in season

I just checked a favorite local apple orchard. Here is what they have in season now.

Jonalicious

Red Delicious

Red Gold

Golden Delicious

Chieftain

Spitzenberg

We have VERY limited quantities of these varieties

Mohawk

Gala

Jonagold

[KamaAina]

43. I see a Bear Flag

So where is this favorite local apple orchard? Santa Cruz Mountains?

[Piedras]

45. See Canyon apple orchards near Avila Beach, CA

Sorry I haven't logged in for awhile. See Canyon near Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, CA has several very nice apple orchards with farm stands.
gopherglen is one favorite apple orchard.

Now Open for the Season

Hours of operation:

Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm

Sunday’s 10am-6pm

Gopher Glen 2014 Apple Season

Now Available ( 9/29/2014)

Jonalicious

Golden Delicious

Chieftain

Red Yorking

Pippin

Braeburn

We have VERY limited quantities of these varieties

Mohawk

Nittany

We try to keep updated our list daily but often run out of varieties before we have have a chance to make changes to our website. Please call ahead to check availability!

Soon to come

Sweet Sixteen

Splendor

Winesap Stayman

Daytrips on the Central Coast: Creekside Farm Apples in See Canyon

See Canyon Apples are such exceptional apples because of the unique climate: a super growing area – 2 miles from Pacific – where sandy loam soil produces the highest quality apples. The warm, mild summer days build up sugar and flavors, and the cool nights help to retain flavor. Creekside’s apples are truly “the most wonderfully flavored apples."

[KamaAina]

46. Not to worry. A coworker's boyfriend has at least one apple tree.

In Hayward (Alameda County). I have one stashed away in my desk for tomorrow.

[yellowdogintexas]

44. another person who dislikes the Red Delicious blehhh. My favorite is the Jazz! apple

I absolutely love these apples. I think it is a cross of Gala and Braeburn and they tast almost effervescent in your mouth. Crisp, kinda tart kinda sweet. Just excellent..and cheaper than Honeycrisps.