By Shannie McCabe

The archetypal apple tends to conjure images of shiny, waxy, plastic perfection — a uniform fruit with a strikingly bland flavor. Decades of industrialized breeding have indeed stripped most grocery store apples of their once-robust identity.

For those willing to do a little digging, however, a myriad of taste and hue awaits.

The apple originated in Central Asia, and has been cultivated there for thousands of years. In the craggly, remote mountains of their native range, thousands of unique varieties of wild apples still mingle freely in a dazzling array of colors, shapes and complex flavors.

Apples were introduced to the United States with early settlers, and one legendary man was largely responsible for disseminating apples into the Western Frontier. John Chapman, or Johnny Appleseed, has been historically depicted as a happy-go-lucky wanderer, spreading apple seeds for nutritious fruit. In reality, planting the land was a necessary component of claiming it in those days, and Chapman was an opportunistic orchardist. The apples he planted were mainly used for making hard cider.

American apple history has waxed and waned, eventually bringing us to the present day, where apple diversity is still fairly robust in regions like Washington state and New England. However, many grocery stores offer just the basics, leaving the majority of Americans out of the loop.

While the typical American grocery store selection may be slim, gardeners do have the opportunity to grow their own gourmet heirloom apples as many dedicated nurseries and collectors have preserved the diversity for future generations. Here are a few favorite heirloom apples and where to find them. 

Arkansas Black Apples

A beautiful deep plum, nearly black skin marks this 19th century heirloom of the Missouri Ozarks. This variety is a top choice for homesteaders as they keep exceptionally long in storage (up to 6 months). A delicious fresh eating and baking apple, Arkansas Black Apple Trees are for sale here.

Pink Pearl Apples

Possibly the prettiest apple in existence, this rose-fleshed heirloom hails from California, where it was introduced by renowned apple breeder Albert Etter in 1944. So much more than just a good looker, this sublimely sweet and crunchy apple is perfect for snacking, apple sauces and baking. Pink Pearl Apple Trees are for sale here.

Rhode Island Greening

A top choice for bakers, this variety has set the standard for cooking apples since the colonial era. The quintessential pie apple, this variety has firm, tart flesh that eventually softens and sweetens after months in storage. Historically, these apples were used for baking and the last ones left in storage in Spring were for fresh eating. Rhode Island Greening Apple Trees are for sale here.

Knobbed Russet Apples

The ugly duckling of our list, this unassuming heirloom is one of the most delicious apples ever grown. Dating back to the early 19th century in Sussex, England, this nuanced old variety is creamy, sweet and slightly spicy. A multipurpose apple, knobbed russets are great for eating out of hand or baking. The variety was nearly lost during WWII, but thankfully restored by the National Fruit collection. Knobbed Russet Apple Trees are for sale here.

Johnny Appleseed’s Original Tree

The iconic apple of Johnny Appleseed's legend, the Johnny Appleseed Authentic™ Algeo apple is both a teaching tool and a delicacy. Johnny Appleseed travelled throughout the west planting orchards from seed just ahead of pioneer expansion, selling the trees or planted land to homesteaders. Most of Johnny’s apple trees didn’t survive to the present day because they were chopped down by axe-wielding federal agents during prohibition to sever Americans' source of hard cider. However, the genetics of his last known surviving tree live on in the form of the Johnny Appleseed Authentic™ apple, which was grafted from a tree likely planted in the early 1830s. Right now, we are in the middle of giving away 100 of these iconic trees and taking preorders for next season’s crop. Get your Johnny Appleseed Authentic™ Apple Tree here.