Red Delicious is a type of apple with a red exterior and sweet taste that was first recognized in Madison County , Iowa , in 1872. Today, the name Red Delicious comprises more than 50 cultivars . It was the most produced apple cultivar in the United States from 1968 until 2018, when it was surpassed by Gala .
20-531: The 'Red Delicious' originated at an orchard in 1872 as "a round, blushed yellow fruit of surpassing sweetness". Stark Nurseries held a competition in 1892 to find an apple to replace the 'Black Ben Davis' apple. The winner was a red and yellow striped apple sent by Jesse Hiatt , a farmer in Peru, Iowa , who called it "Hawkeye". Stark Nurseries bought the rights from Hiatt, renamed the variety "Stark Delicious", and began propagating it. Another apple tree, later named
40-482: A bill to bail out the apple industry, after apple growers had lost $ 760 million since 1997. Farmers began to replace their orchards with other cultivars such as Gala , Fuji , and Honeycrisp . By 2000, this cultivar made up less than one half of the Washington state output, and in 2003, the crop had shrunk to 37 percent of the state's harvest, which totaled 103 million boxes. Although Red Delicious still remained
60-421: A bill to bail out the apple industry, after apple growers had lost $ 760 million since 1997. Farmers began to replace their orchards with other cultivars such as Gala , Fuji , and Honeycrisp . By 2000, this cultivar made up less than one half of the Washington state output, and in 2003, the crop had shrunk to 37 percent of the state's harvest, which totaled 103 million boxes. Although Red Delicious still remained
80-459: A bundle of apple scions. He started a nursery business from his bundle, officially incorporated in 1889. In 1893, Stark Bro's held their first International New Fruit Fair. Jesse Hiatt, who owned an orchard in Peru, Iowa, sent samples of his fruit to compete in the contest for the best new fruit. Hiatt's apples won the judging, but his nametag could not be found. He submitted samples of the same apple
100-418: A competition in 1892 to find an apple to replace the 'Black Ben Davis' apple. The winner was a red and yellow striped apple sent by Jesse Hiatt , a farmer in Peru, Iowa , who called it "Hawkeye". Stark Nurseries bought the rights from Hiatt, renamed the variety "Stark Delicious", and began propagating it. Another apple tree, later named the ' Golden Delicious ', was also marketed by Stark Nurseries after it
120-573: Is a type of apple with a red exterior and sweet taste that was first recognized in Madison County , Iowa , in 1872. Today, the name Red Delicious comprises more than 50 cultivars . It was the most produced apple cultivar in the United States from 1968 until 2018, when it was surpassed by Gala . The 'Red Delicious' originated at an orchard in 1872 as "a round, blushed yellow fruit of surpassing sweetness". Stark Nurseries held
140-511: The ' Golden Delicious ', was also marketed by Stark Nurseries after it was purchased from a farmer in Clay County, West Virginia , in 1914; the 'Delicious' became the 'Red Delicious' as a retronym . Starting in the 1950s, changes in grocery buying habits led to consumers prioritizing visual appearance. As a result, commercial growers increasingly selected for longer storage and cosmetic appeal rather than flavor and palatability. In particular
160-579: The US. In the 1980s, 'Red Delicious' represented three-quarters of the harvest in Washington state , but the selection of beauty and long storage over taste was making the apples less popular, and demand was declining as supermarkets started carrying other varieties. By the 1990s, reliance on the now-unwanted 'Red Delicious' had helped to push Washington state's apple industry "to the edge" of collapse. In 2000, Congress approved and President Bill Clinton signed
180-508: The apple were closed. Over the years many propagable mutations, or sports, have been identified in 'Red Delicious' apple trees. In addition to those propagated without any patent applications (or cut out because they were seen as inferior), 42 sports have been patented in the United States: In 1977, the application for #4159 noted the "starchy and bland taste of some of the newer varieties". The plant patent for #4926 promoted
200-439: The apple were closed. Over the years many propagable mutations, or sports, have been identified in 'Red Delicious' apple trees. In addition to those propagated without any patent applications (or cut out because they were seen as inferior), 42 sports have been patented in the United States: In 1977, the application for #4159 noted the "starchy and bland taste of some of the newer varieties". The plant patent for #4926 promoted
220-705: The following year and won again. This time there was a nametag, and the apples could be identified. The Stark brothers traveled to the Hiatt farm and bought the rights to the Red Delicious apple in 1894. In 1914, the Stark Golden Delicious apple was discovered and developed. The original tree was found on the Mullins' family farm in Clay County, West Virginia and was locally known as Mullin's Yellow Seedling and Annit apple. Anderson Mullins sold
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#1732779749508240-413: The genes that produced the yellow stripes on the original fruit were on the same chromosomes as those for the flavor-producing compounds. Breeding for uniformity and storability favored a thicker skin. Later, as other cultivars entered supermarkets, demand for the 'Red Delicious' declined. In the 1940s the apple was the most popular in the US. In the 1980s, 'Red Delicious' represented three-quarters of
260-407: The harvest in Washington state , but the selection of beauty and long storage over taste was making the apples less popular, and demand was declining as supermarkets started carrying other varieties. By the 1990s, reliance on the now-unwanted 'Red Delicious' had helped to push Washington state's apple industry "to the edge" of collapse. In 2000, Congress approved and President Bill Clinton signed
280-404: The selection of redder fruit caused deselection of flavor, and the genes that produced the yellow stripes on the original fruit were on the same chromosomes as those for the flavor-producing compounds. Breeding for uniformity and storability favored a thicker skin. Later, as other cultivars entered supermarkets, demand for the 'Red Delicious' declined. In the 1940s the apple was the most popular in
300-745: The single largest variety produced in the state in 2005, others were growing in popularity, notably the Fuji and Gala varieties. By 2014 the Washington Apple Commission was recommending growers plan to export 60% or more of production. In 2018 the Gala apple overtook US sales of the Red Delicious for the first time. Through 2020 production continued to decline. The COVID-19 pandemic was expected to further continue decline in demand as many cafeterias and other typical sales points for
320-495: The single largest variety produced in the state in 2005, others were growing in popularity, notably the Fuji and Gala varieties. By 2014 the Washington Apple Commission was recommending growers plan to export 60% or more of production. In 2018 the Gala apple overtook US sales of the Red Delicious for the first time. Through 2020 production continued to decline. The COVID-19 pandemic was expected to further continue decline in demand as many cafeterias and other typical sales points for
340-599: The sport as a dwarfing interstock, a dwarfing rootstock for pears , or to produce " crab apple "-sized 'Delicious' apples. Stark Brothers Nurseries Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co. is a horticultural company based in Louisiana, Missouri , that specializes in growing and selling fruit trees to home gardeners and orchardists. The company was the original marketer of the Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples. In 1816, James Hart Stark moved from Kentucky to Louisiana, Missouri . He brought with him
360-431: The tree and propagation rights to Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co., which first marketed it as a companion to their Red Delicious apple in 1914. They collaborated with Luther Burbank who willed over 750 of his varieties to the company. In June 2001, the possibility of closure to Stark Brothers Nurseries, Louisiana, Missouri 's oldest and largest employer, famous worldwide for the fruit trees it grew and sold,
380-445: Was a reality. However, the alarm was short-lived. By the fall of that year, Stark Bro's was back as two separate business Stark Bro's Fulfillment Services and Stark Brothers Nurseries and Orchards. Stark Bro's has three main business areas: e-Commerce/Mail-Order, Wholesale, and the retail Garden Center. The operations include: One million trees per year are shipped from Stark Bro's facilities. Red Delicious Red Delicious
400-449: Was purchased from a farmer in Clay County, West Virginia , in 1914; the 'Delicious' became the 'Red Delicious' as a retronym . Starting in the 1950s, changes in grocery buying habits led to consumers prioritizing visual appearance. As a result, commercial growers increasingly selected for longer storage and cosmetic appeal rather than flavor and palatability. In particular the selection of redder fruit caused deselection of flavor, and
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