What Are Gravenstein Apples and How Can I Order Them?

It’s Gravenstein apple time! The FruitGuys has celebrated the Sebastopol Gravenstein in our fruit deliveries every year since 2006. During the harvest each August, we source Gravensteins from local farms in Sebastopol and pack them into our limited-time Annual Gravenstein Apple Boxes. We get a lot of questions about our organic Gravensteins, so I thought I’d answer some of them for you. Let’s start with the basics: What are Gravenstein apples?

What are Gravenstein apples, and what makes them special?

The Grav is special because it’s considered a heritage apple (Russian trappers brought it to California in 1811), and only a handful of farms in California still grow it. The Sepastopol Grav is even listed as an endangered food in Slow Food USA’s Arc of Taste. Locals love the Gravenstein for its rarity and sweet-tart flavor. If you happen to be in Sebastopol in August, you can check out the Gravenstein Apple Fair that’s been held in Sonoma County since the 1970s.

What do Gravenstein apples taste like? 

Gravensteins have a unique sweet-tart flavor and tender skin. Farmer Stan Devoto, one of The FruitGuys’ Gravenstein suppliers, says that early-season Gravensteins are tart and juicy, and they get sweeter as the season goes on. I’ve heard Grav fans describe them as both sweet and sour, clean, balanced, and refreshing.

What are Gravenstein apples good for?

Gravensteins are great for eating fresh out of hand, slicing onto salads, or dipping into nut butter. They’re also a wonderful apple for baking into pies and tarts and cooking into applesauce. They even make a tasty hard cider. If you want to try baking them, I always recommend starting with this award-winning Gravenstein Apple Pie recipe. 

Why are Gravensteins only available for a few weeks each year?

Gravensteins taste the best when they’re fresh-picked—just as nature intended! They don’t store as well as other apples, so it’s best to eat them quickly while they’re in season. Since they’re rare, the supply only lasts a few weeks.

When are Gravenstein apples in season?  

Farmers in Sonoma County usually start harvesting Gravensteins in late July or early August. The exact dates that Gravenstein apples are ripe can vary a bit depending on the weather and other factors on the farm, so we stay in touch with our farm partners throughout the summer to get updates from the orchard and keep our customers informed.

What color are Gravensteins supposed to be, green or red?

Gravs can vary in color. Some are more green than red, while others are red with green hints. There are even striped “Rosebrook” Gravs! But they’re all sweet-tart and delicious.

What size are Gravenstein apples?

Gravs vary in size based on weather, which farm they come from, and other factors. Hot weather can make them smaller, for example, while lots of rain can make them bigger. Because Gravs are an heirloom apple and there are only a few orchards left, they’re not as uniformly large as most grocery store apples, but they make up for their varying size with abundant flavor.

Are Gravensteins more delicate than other apples?

Gravensteins are best handled with care because they have soft skin that bruises easily. We baby them and pack them by hand, but they still get the occasional bruise during transport. Luckily, those bruises are only skin-deep and don’t change their sweet-tart flavor.

Why do Gravensteins cost more than other apples?

So many people love Gravensteins that there aren’t always enough to go around. They’re a prized, limited-time treat, especially when they’re grown with organic practices. We only pack the best organic Gravensteins in our Annual Gravenstein Apple Boxes.

Where does The FruitGuys get its Gravensteins?

We typically source organic Gravenstein apples from two farms in Sonoma County: Devoto Gardens & Orchards and Appleseed Farms. We’ve visited their orchards and delivered thousands of their apples nationwide. Watch our video to learn more about the farmers, Stan Devoto and John Kolling. We give Stan and John an additional 16% of the proceeds from the Gravenstein Apple Box to help them continue cultivating this special apple.

Where can I buy Gravenstein apples?

If you can’t make it to Sebastopol, The FruitGuys delivers organic Gravenstein apples nationwide. You can check our Annual Gravenstein Apple Box page to see if they’re in season, and either preorder a box or sign up for updates on their availability. We have a couple of different box sizes to choose from. They’re a great treat for the office or gift for a baker in your life!