Why the 2026 Gravenstein Apple Harvest Is So Small—and How to Get Yours

I’m on a family vacation when I get the news, and my stomach sinks: John Kolling of Appleseed Farms, one of our farm partners, doesn’t have any Gravenstein apples to sell us this year.

“John said they went to pick our order, but weren’t able to get much, and a lot of the apples they were getting were tiny,” Miguel, one of our California produce buyers, tells the team. “John described them as marbles.”

Gravenstein Apples Are In Limited Supply—Don’t Miss Them!

Gravensteins are a rare heritage apple that we pack in a special box every year, so this was sad news for John and for all of the Gravenstein apple lovers out there. A lot of factors conspired against the Grav crop, including unusual weather, increased pest pressure, and fire blight. Sometimes Mother Nature just doesn’t behave how we expect. Even though John was giving us updates on his apples all season, their size shocked him on harvest day.

Luckily, we have another Gravenstein apple supplier, Stan Devoto of Devoto Gardens & Orchards, who was still able to pick Gravensteins for us.

How to Order Gravenstein Apples Before They’re Gone

Our annual Organic Gravenstein Apple Box is still on, but we have a very limited amount on hand for our Aug. 10–21 deliveries. So if you want a box of sweet-tart organic Gravs for snacking or baking, make sure you preorder them now. As soon as we run out, you’ll be out of luck until next year.