Apple Varieties

Apples

Descriptions and Approximate Season (listed in order of ripening)

The available periods listed here are for general reference.
Check the Market Page or Pick-Your-Own Page for the most up to date availability information.

August

Pristine – An excellent summer apple, solid pale yellow color, medium tart, eating or baking
Market Availability:  Late July through early August
Pick Your Own:  Not available

Summer Sweet – (aka Redfree) Crisp, sweet, nice early season eating apple.
Market Availability:  Early August through Mid August
Pick Your Own: Not available

Sansa – Sweet, Crisp, with a little tang, our first apple for pick-your-own.
Market Availability:  Mid-August through early September
Pick Your Own Availability:  Mid to late August

Pinnacle – NEW!   We are very excited about this new apple which has the potential to become a favorite at Solebury Orchards.  Similar to Honey Crisp with extra flavor and sweetness.
Market Availability: Late August to early September, limited
Pick Your Own Availability:  Late August

Early to Mid September

Gala – Crispy, sweet, fine flavored apple for eating.
Market Availability:  September through mid-October
Pick Your Own Availability:  Late August to Early September

Honey Crisp – Very large, extremely juicy, extra crispy, extra sweet, medium tart. This is one of the most popular apples at Solebury Orchards. Everyone should try Honey Crisp.
Market Availability: Early to mid-September through October
Pick Your Own Availability:  Early-September through Mid September

Sweet Surprise – New Solebury Orchards exclusive, extra sweet, strong flavor, medium tart.
Market Availability:  Early to mid September
Pick Your Own:  Limited supply, mid September

Mid to Late September

Pixie Crunch – Another new variety, very breaking, crisp texture, great flavor. A real favorite.
Market Availability:  Mid to late September through early October
Pick Your Own Availability: Late September to Early October

Crimson Crisp – Medium size, bright red color, very good, rich flavor, extremely crisp texture. Best for fresh eating.
Market:  Not available
Pick Your Own Availability:  Mid to late September through early October

Cortland – Large, red, tart flavored, light texture, very white, non-browning flesh. Nice for pies or applesauce or for salads.
Market Availability:  Not available
Pick Your Own:  Limited supply, early October

Jonathan – Small, red, tart flavored, good for pies, sauce, and eating for tart apples fans.
Market Availability:  Early October
Pick Your Own Availability:  Late September

Crunch-a-Bunch – NEW! Available starting in 2024.  A large yellow apple descendant from Honeycrisp
Market:  Early October, limited supply starting 2024
Pick Your Own Availability:  Late September starting 2024

Empire – Beautiful, glossy red, juicy, medium tart. Good all purpose apple.
Market Availability:  Late September through mid October
Pick Your Own Availability:  Late September to Early October

Firecracker– New! Orange red color. Medium tart, dry, breaking flesh, great flavor.
Market Availability:   Late September through mid October, starting 2026.
Pick Your Own Availability:  Late September to Early October, limited supply starting 2025

Early to Mid October

Piñata – orange red apple similar to Gold Delicious or Jonagold.
Market Availability:  Mid October
Pick Your Own Availability:  Early to mid October

Jonagold – Large, sweet, juicy, red / yellow apples. Nice flavor for eating or good for applesauce.
Market Availability:  Early to mid October
Pick Your Own Availability:  Late September to mid October

Melrose – Red, sweet, juicy, with a little tartness. Good all purpose apple, stores well.
Market:  Not available
Pick Your Own Availability:  Early to mid October

Cuttalossa – NEW! Available starting 2024. This new variety is a seedling of our popular Keepsake apple, with many of the same qualities, but ripening earlier and with a boost in flavor.  The original tree of this variety was grown and selected at Solebury Orchards.
Market:  Early October
Pick Your Own Availability:  Early October

Topaz – Full red, solid texture, very strong flavor, tart. Has received high praise from Pick-Your-Own customers.
Market Availability:  Late October through early November
Pick Your Own Availability:  Early to mid October

Sun Crisp – Bright yellow, very solid, nice firm texture, medium tart. Great flavor for eating, pies, or sauce.
Market Availability:  Mid to late October
Pick Your Own Availability:  Early to mid October

Florina – Nice Crisp, purple-red over yellow color, unique flavor, aromatic, all purpose Apple. Also known as Querina.
Market:  Not available
Pick Your Own Availability:  Early to mid October

Stayman Winesap – Well known old variety, tart flavored, juicy, solid flesh. Use for fresh eating and baking.
Market Availability:  Late October through mid December
Pick Your Own Availability: Mid to late October

Barnsby Pink –  Earlier ripening version of the Cripps Pink (PinkLady®) variety listed below with good, tart flavor right off the tree.
Market Availability:  November through December
Pick Your Own Availability:  Mid to late October

Late October to Early November

Fuji – Very sweet, juicy, low acid, stores very well. Fresh eating.
Market Availability:  November through March
Pick Your Own Availability:  Late October

Braeburn – Late season, very tart early, but mellows in storage. Eating, baking, or cooking.
Market Availability:  November through February
Pick Your Own Availability:  Not available

Keepsake – This apple is a Solebury Orchards specialty. Very sweet and crispy, with great flavor, very popular eating apple during late fall and through the winter. A parent variety to the Honeycrisp.
Market Availability:  November through March
Pick Your Own Availability:  Late October

WineCrisp – A new variety that with dark burgundy color.  Very hard flesh, medium tart and flavorful.
Market:  Not available
Pick Your Own Availability:  Late October

Granny Smith – Very tart, very solid, excellent flavored apple for baking.
Market Availability:  November through January
Pick Your Own:  Not available

Sundance – Large yellow, tart, flavorful.
Market:  Not available
Pick Your Own Availability:  Late October to early November, limited.

Cripps Pink –  Also known as PinkLady® A very late season apple. Tart when first picked, but mellows in storage to a nice flavored all purpose apple.
Market Availability:  November through March
Pick Your Own Availability:  Late October to early November

Salida del Sol – new variety and Solebury Orchards exclusive, excellent flavor, customers who have tried this variety come back asking for more.
Market Availability:  November through mid-December
Pick Your Own Availability: Late October to Early November

Gold Rush – Golden yellow, solid, very tart when fresh picked, superb flavor after several months of storage.
Market Availability:  December through March
Pick Your Own Availability:  Late October to Early November

KS Seedling #2– NEW! Available starting 2025. The second Solebury selection from the Keepsake family.  This apple is small, yellowish, and has a russet appearance.  Its flavor is quite strong and spritely.
Market:  Early November, limited supply
Pick Your Own Availability:  Not available