Apples come in so many wonderful varietals. In fact, according to the U.S. Apple Association, there are more than 2,500 varietals grown in the United States. With more than 100 apple varieties being grown commercially, only a total of 15 popular varieties account for almost 90 percent of production. Come fall, you will see many of those varietals on your favorite grocery store shelves.

To make your apple selection a little bit easier, following are some of our favorites:

Fuji – A hybrid of two American apples, the Red Delicious and the old Virginia Ralls Genet, the Fuji was developed in Japan in the late 1930s. It is a very popular apple all over the U.S. for snacking, thanks to its sweet flavor, firmness and general availability.

Gala – The Gala apple was developed in New Zealand by J.H. Kidd, crossing Golden Delicious with his own Kidd’s Orange Red. Brought to the United States in the early 1970s, it is one of the country’s most popular apples. The flesh of the apple is crisp and thick, with a very mild sweet flavor, so it is great for eating. It abundance of juice also makes it a desirable snack.

Golden Delicious – This apple is sought after for its sweet, buttery flavor. It is a great apple for snacking, as an addition to salads and for baking, when you want a milder dessert. The Golden Delicious is prone to bruising and shriveling, so it needs careful handling and storage. Best when picked right off the tree!

Granny Smith – Granny Smith apples are popular in baking because of their very tart flavor and their ability to remain firm when cooked. They have a light green skin and crisp, juicy flesh. Many people love snacking on them, when they are looking for a tart and acidic apple.

Gravenstein – Gravenstein apples have been growing in Sonoma County for centuries and are very close to our heart. First planted by Russian fur traders in 1811 at Fort Ross, orchards of Gravenstein apple trees began popping up all over neighboring towns with a concentration of trees thriving in the sandy loam of Sebastopol, North Coast’s hometown. Gravensteins are a wonderful cooking apple. Crisp and tart and with a touch of honey, they are especially good in apple sauce and cider.

Honeycrisp – The Honeycrisp is one of the most sought after apples in the U.S., mostly due to its crunchy, honey-sweet taste. It is good for snacking, salads and apple sauce-making, and it stores well.

Jonagold – The Jonagold apple has a honey-tart flavor with a crispy, juicy flesh. A blend of the Jonathan and Golden Delicious apple, it is excellent both for eating fresh and for cooking. Jonagolds hold up exceptionally well in the oven, so they are popular with bakers.

Jonathan – The Jonathan is a sweet apple, with a touch of acid. Its slightly spicy flavor and exceptional juiciness makes it a perfect apple for use in juice and cider. The flesh of the Jonathan apple will break down slightly when cooked, so it is often baked in combination with firmer apples, such as Granny Smith.

McIntosh – Juicy and tart, the McIntosh apple has tender, white flesh. It is a great apple for snacking, and some people enjoy its tart flavor in pies as well.

Pink Lady – With its crisp, sweet-tart flavor, Pink Lady apples are good for eating raw as well baking. Pink Ladies retain their shape when baked, so they are popular in apple pies.

Rome Beauty – The Rome apple is bright red and very crunchy. It is primarily used for baking because its flavor develops when cooked, and it holds its shape well when used in apple pies and other desserts.

North Coast Organic apple varietals

At North Coast Organic, we love all varietals of apples. We are especially proud to offer three delicious single apple varietal juices: Gravenstein, Honeycrisp and Gala. The other varietals we use in our blends may include: Fuji, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Jonathan, Rome, and Pink Lady. We also offer single varietal Gravenstein, Honeycrisp and Gala apple sauce.

If you’d like to find out where to purchase North Coast Organic products, we invite you to check out where they are sold at markets and grocery stores near you.

North Coast Organic apple products are made in Sebastopol, CA from U.S. grown certified organic apples. They contain no added sugars, preservatives, colorings or flavorings.