To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Early apples
Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2006 19:18:36 -0800 (PST)
Ed,
One of the new early apple varieties that is getting popular in Minnesota is Zestar.(Formerly named Zesta before Nabisco didn't want an apple from the U of Minn with the same name as their cracker). Ripens at the end of August in zone 3/4 in MN. I've had my tree for 6 years and couldn't be happier. It produces annually, produces at a young age, is a fast growing tree, and the apples are good sized (with minor thinning), , very white fleshed and really crisp. Flavor has good balance, but I would consider it a desert apple. The apples keep well for 4-6 weeks, just long enough to make it to the late fall apple season. I think Zestar competes very well with the traditionally better quality late season apples.