From the Big Apple… to Apple computers… to McDonald’s crispy apple pies, apples hold a special place in American culture. 

As I share in the Apple episode of my Fascinating podcast series, The United States of Yum!, apples are so beloved in the USA, they are the official state fruit of 7 American states:

Illinois, Minnesota, Rhode Island, West Virginia, New York, Vermont and Washington. 

The latter 3 of those states only have “apple” in general as the official state fruit. 

The other four states, however, went beyond the generic to choose a distinct apple varietal that holds a special, historical spot in their apple-loving hearts.

Illinois:

Gold Rush Apple

The Gold Rush apple became the state fruit of Illinois in 2007, after a class of fourth graders lobbied for its inclusion.

After her teacher asked the class which fruit they should propose to the state legislature, Holly Carroll rose to the challenge.

"I was looking on my computer at home and I found some apples that were grown in Illinois and the GoldRush Apple is the only one that's golden in color,” said Holly. “So I picked that one because I thought it was a good one.”

Developed at the University of Illinois in the 1990s, Gold Rush was cultivated to withstand harsh Midwestern winters. And it is highly resistant to pests and disease.

This apple is revered for its sweet-tart flavor, which becomes more pronounced as it ripens.

Minnesota:

Honeycrisp Apple

Minnesota proudly proclaimed the Honeycrisp apple as its official state fruit in 2006.

Cultivated in the 1960s at the University of Minnesota, it was specifically engineered to withstand cold winters. 

Honeycrisp quickly became a favorite among American apple lovers, thanks to its crisp, sweet and juicy flavor. Today, it is one of America’s 5 Most Popular Apple Varietals.

Historians say Honeycrisp’s hardiness and popularity spurred a resurgence in apple farming in Minnesota and beyond, amongst farmers who were once hesitant to grow any apples in harsh winter climates.

www.sashatobago.com

Though there are thousands of apple varietals in the world, these five apples are the ones Americans love eating the most.

Rhode Island:

Rhode Island Greening Apple

The Rhode Island Greening Apple has been the state’s official apple since 1991.

The oldest state apple in this bunch, it dates back to the early 1600s, when European settlers planted apple orchards for the making of cider and pies, alike.

Legend has it that Greening was U.S. president George Washington’s favorite apple. And legend has it there are only two places where you can grow a Greening to perfection: 

Rhode Island; and the mythical Garden of Eden!

Tart and crisp like the Granny Smith apple, Greenings are great for baking a good ol fashioned American apple pie. 

www.sashatobago.com

In Vermont, eating apple pie with cheddar cheese is a longstanding local tradition. Bake and savor this authentic apple cheddar pie recipe straight out of Vermont.

West Virginia:

Golden Delicious Apple

In the mountainous landscape of West Virginia, the Golden Delicious apple has reigned supreme as the official state fruit since 1995. 

It was first discovered in the early 1900s as a wild seedling of unknown origins, on the Mullins family farm in West Virginia.

The Mullins family nurtured it and brought it to market, where its golden color and sweet and juicy flavor was an instant hit.

Before long, Golden Delicious was a popular staple in apple orchards across the USA. Beloved for its thin skin and refreshing sweetness, Americans love to eat it fresh; in a salad; or baked in a delectable pie or pastry.