4 Summer Apples Worth Tasting

You probably think of fall as apple season, right? It’s the time when we sip on steaming cider, wrap ourselves in scarves, and bake delicious pies for Thanksgiving. But the truth is that apple season starts way before you’d probably expect it: In August! Even though I work at a fruit company, summer apples still sneak up on me every year.

4 Summer Apple Varieties to Try

Summer apples taste just as good as their autumn sisters, and they’re not limited to just one part of the country. You can find them in Pennsylvania, California, and everywhere in between. These apples aren’t genetically modified to ripen earlier. They naturally evolved to need less time on the tree, and farmers take advantage of it by planting them and selling them before other varieties are ready. Here are a few of my personal favorite early season apples. If you’re lucky, you might spot them in The FruitGuys’ office fruit mixes in August and beyond.

1. Gravenstein

Gravensteins are a rare heritage apple that arrived in California with Russian trappers in 1811, and they’re only in season for about two weeks each August. They can be red, green, or red-and-green striped. The striped ones are called “Rosebrook” Gravensteins. All of the colors have a sweet-tart flavor, delicate skin, and pale flesh. Gravs are great for snacking, pies, or sauce. They have a special place in our hearts and stomachs at The FruitGuys, because we’re on a mission to help save them from disappearing from California. We sell Gravensteins in a special Gravenstein Apple Box every year and give a portion of the proceeds back to Gravenstein farmers in Sebastopol.

2. Pink Pearl

This fun California heritage apple has blushed yellow-green skin and bright pink flesh, which really makes it stand out. It’s more tart than sweet and can be a little on the softer side. Horticulturist Albert Etter was the first to grow these unique apples back in 1944, and today farmers like Stan Devoto of Devoto Gardens & Orchards in Sebastopol (a FruitGuys farm partner) are keeping the tradition alive. The unusual color inside the Pink Pearl comes from its Turkish ancestor, the Surprise apple.

Here’s how Stan’s website describes the fruit: “The fruit is crisp, has good tart flavor, and is good for baking and eating. It gives its pink color to apple sauces and makes very attractive pies.”

3. Ginger Gold

This early season apple has yellow-green skin (sometimes with a red blush) and white flesh. It’s sweet and mild, but can also have tart or spiced notes. Ginger Golds originated in Virginia, but today farmers grow them nationwide. They first appeared by accident in an orchard in the 1960s. Look for them in August and enjoy one as a fresh snack or sliced over salad, oatmeal, or yogurt.

4. Smokehouse

This squat, red and green heirloom apple comes from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where it was discovered near William Gibbons’ smokehouse. It’s juicy and tastes a bit like spiced cider. I grew up in Pennsylvania, and I have fond memories of snacking on this apple every summer. The FruitGuys has sourced Smokehouse apples from Beechwood Orchards in Biglerville, Pennsylvania, a fifth-generation family farm.

Summer Apple Recipes

Summer apples are just as versatile as fall apples, so you can use them in all of your favorite apple recipes. Here are a few to try out this season.

• Whole Wheat Apple Bread
• Easy Applesauce
• Savory Apple Tarts
• Award-Winning Gravenstein Apple Pie
• Waldorf Salad 3 Ways
• Apple and Pear Cobbler

More Apple Varieties Worth Tasting

To learn about more of the amazing apple varieties we include in our office fruit deliveries (and how they stack up from sweet to tart), check out our apple flavor chart.