New Hard Cider Variety and Three ‘Honeycrisp’ Crosses at Stark Bro’s

★DISEASE-RESISTANT★ An exceptional bittersharp cider apple. The most sought-after cider apples these days are bittersharps, which combine high acid, high sugar and high tannins all in one fruit. The goal of the cidermaker is a product with a dry finish and a hint of sweet astringency. Until now, ‘Kingston Black’ was the apple of choice for makers of hard cider, but the discovery of Stark® Franklin Cider™ is about to change that. This apple offers not only these three desirable characteristics in one apple — which means no blending is necessary — but it’s native to the U.S. and shows resistance to rust and scab. Yields up to 30 bushels per tree, 2.74 gallons of juice per bushel, and the fruit hangs very well, unlike many other cider varieties. Scab- and rust-resistant. The tree is extremely cold-hardy, surviving winters of -35°F. USPPAF.

A better Honeycrisp! Super-juicy, sweet sub-acid flavor and characteristic crispness makes this one of the best fresh-eating apples around. This Honeycrisp x Gala cross produces pretty, cherry-red fruit with light striping. A heavy annual bearer that tolerates warmer climates. Shows promising resistance to rust, scab, bitter-pit and fire blight. USPPAF.

Tastes like Honeycrisp, grows to Zone 7. A deep-red dessert apple, with pale yellow-cream flesh that’s full of juice and sweet crunch. Grows like Gala, but thrives further south. Tolerates wet seasons with little or no fruit rot. Shows the same disease-resistance as Stark® Hart’s Fancy™. Keeps 6 months. Ripens about 2½ weeks after Honeycrisp. USPPAF.

A heavy bearer that grows farther south. Medium-vigor tree with an open, spreading growth habit. Large, well-shaped Honeycrisp/Gala cross with 3- to 4-inch cherry-red apples. The taste of the yellow flesh is sub-acid to sweet. Extra-large cells give it a distinctive crisp-crunch. Disease-resistance is similar to Stark® Hart’s Fancy™ and Stark® Ruby Darling™. Keeps 4 to 5 months in cold storage. USPPAF.

2018 DGA Green Thumb award winner! Like Stark® Ruby Darling™, this new Honeycrisp/Pink Lady cross grows in Zones 5 to 7. The fruit is sweet with citrusy notes, plus that famous Honeycrisp snap and juiciness. Up to 3-inch-diameter pink/rosy-red fruit is uniform, conical and very attractive. Shows the same disease resistance as the other new Honeycrisp crosses in this gallery. Keeps up to 4 weeks in proper storage. Ripens in late September, extending the Honeycrisp season. USPPAF.