Red Delicious

Red Delicious is a variety of apple with a red exterior and sweet taste. Known as "the Reds" in the industry, this variety is the result of a chance seedling. It was first recognized in Madison County, Iowa, United States, in 1872. Despite its name, it is not related to the Golden Delicious. The Red Delicious is harvested in mid-fall, but is available all year round and is best consumed fresh or in salads. It could also make up part of the blend for apple cider. It has white, tender, crisp, and juicy flesh, with a distinctive flavor. Over the years, it has been bred to be redder, larger, and more elongated. Today, the name Red Delicious covers more than 300 named cultivars (cultivated varieties). It was the most produced apple cultivar in the United States from 1968 until 2018, when it was surpassed by Gala. It also lost that title in Canada at around the same time. Even so, it remains popular in Mexico and some Asian countries. Its shape is still considered emblematic of apples. A 1996 study found that clones of the Red Delicious were some of the most commonly used to breed new apple varieties, behind only the McIntosh, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, and Cox's Orange Pippin. Many new varieties developed in the nations of the Pacific Rim have the Red Delicious in their pedigrees. Pollinating partners of the Red Delicious include the Gala, Ginger Gold, and Golden Delicious.