North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Nathan Torgerson <nathantorgerson@yahoo.com>]

I happened to run into this new U of MN apple (Snowsweet) searching the net for Zestar info:

http://www.apples.umn.edu/nurseries/snowben.html

 

It's a hybrid between Sharon and Connell Red.  They are promoting this new apple for its flavor "Sweet with a slight tart balance and rich overtones" and its ability to keep its flesh white after being cut (They don't say for how long).

 

For being a late summer apple (ripening two weeks after Honeycrisp, three weeks after McIntosh), it isn't a great keeper, lasting only 6 weeks to 2 months in storage.  They also mention that its a cold climate apple up to zone 4a "Grows best in northern U.S., Canada and areas with a relatively cooler climate."

 

They have a list of licenced nurseries who are carrying it (only 8 in the country):

http://www.apples.umn.edu/nurseries/nurseries.html, just in case you want to be one of the first to order. The U of MN doesn't release apples very often, so they are usually worth sinking your teeth into when they do.

 

I rode the last U of MN release with the 1999 Zestar, planting mine in 2000. I had a few apples for people to try...it was quite fun to be ahead of the local orchard curve, most of them not having Zestars until a couple years later.

 

Nate Torgerson

Andover, MN zone 4a

 

 

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