Jonathan: “The Children’s Apple”

Jonathan apples are a favorite at Tuttle Orchards both with the thousands of school kids who visit, as well as being the apple used in our famous caramel apples.

Jonathan has come a long way since its discovery in Ulster Count, New York, in the early 1800s. Within a hundred years it was the sixth best-selling apple in the United States, and it became Michigan’s most popular variety. Jonathan’s influence has been spread by a number of well-known crosses, most of them identifiable as family members because the names share the first four letters.

It has a strong tang that some people also note in the apple’s descendants. Beneath the thin, tough skin, the flesh is firm, fine-textured, and juicy. This variety rates high for both eating fresh and cooking down into sauce, but it will not keep its shape when baked. Toss Jonathans into the hopper of a cider mill, and you’ll retain something of their spicy character.

Approximate Date Available:   Sept 10
Approximate Availability:  Six Months

Uses:  Eating, Sauce, Salad

Flavor: Tart

Texture: Tender