The honeycrisp apple is a newly developed apple that has many singing its praises. It is crisp, juicy and sweet and is particularly appealing because it is available when most other “eating apples” are ending their seasons. Typically the honeycrisp apple becomes available in late September to early October, and can extend the “eating apple” season. In fact in some states, like California, it’s hard to find a honeycrisp until mid-October.

The honeycrisp is a child of the Minnesota apple-breeding program. It was first developed in 1960, but was not marketed until the 1990s. The apple results from a cross between the Honeygold apple and the Macoun, which is similar in taste and texture to a McIntosh. The Honeygold apple is actually a cross between the better know Golden Delicious and the Haralson Apple.

Since the honeycrisp is patented, growers must obtain a license to grow and sell this juicy, crispy wonder. It is still primarily sold in areas like Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois. In fact, the honeycrisp tends to perform better in areas with a variety of warm and cold climates, so the Northern Midwest states are generally ideal for its growth.

Also because a honeycrisp patent exists, the apple can be a little difficult to obtain, and quite pricey to purchase. Organic honeycrisp apples might cost as much as four US dollars (USD) per pound, and non-organic honeycrisp apples usually sell for at least two USD per pound.

The honeycrisp is also credited with giving the northern Midwest states a needed boost in production and sales. With the popularity of the honeycrisp, new life has been breathed into orchards that were steadily losing ground due to poor sales and disinterest in their products.

The honeycrisp is not the result of lab experiments, but is crossed the old fashioned way, by brushing the pollen of a Macoun flower against that of a Honeygold flower, by hand. This is an example of cross-pollination, a time honored technique for developing more desirable agricultural yields. Thus the honeycrisp is not considered a production of genetic engineering, which makes it appealing to many environmentalists.

Even with a higher price tag, the honeycrisp apple is definitely worth a try. Grocers have a hard time keeping them in stock because they have proven so incredibly popular.