Golden Russet OF WESTERN NY (GR-1)

For generations, Golden Russet has been revered for its winter dessert quality and its cider. It probably originated in the eastern US before 1800. Unfortunately old-timers typically referred to russeted varieties simply as “Russet”. Consequently many unique apples have been confused, mixed up and lumped into one “variety”. In fact there are russets of many sizes, shapes, seasons and qualities. Golden Russet is probably the most confused of them all. Even today, commercial nurseries and orchards are growing a number of “different” Golden Russets without knowing it.

In the last few years we have begun to sort out the Maine russets using DNA profiling techniques. Most of our old Golden Russets fall into two groups, currently referred to as GR1 and GR2. Old trees of both can be found in old Maine orchards, sometimes only a few miles apart. Both GR1 and GR2 are good apples, and they are phenotypically difficult to tell apart. GR1 is Golden Russet of Western New York. GR2 has been found in multiple locations in Maine, but as yet it has not been identified. It has not been reported elsewhere in New England or in other parts of the country, but that may be because apples from other locations have not been as extensively DNA profiled. We hope to sort out the true GR2 sometime in the next few years.

Various apples referred to as Golden Russet have long been esteemed for cider and dessert. The true Golden russet of Western NY has a dense, sharp flavor that seems almost effervescent. It ripens late in fall when the root cellar has finally cooled off. It makes what has been called the Champagne of sweet cider: balanced, thick and smooth, and it also makes a delicious hard cider. Golden Russet makes excellent eating, and it keeps all winter and well into spring. The round, medium-sized, hard fruit which is uniform in size and shape, softens as winter progresses but maintains its superior tart-sweet flavor.