There are a few different apple varieties that are thought to be crosses involving Honeycrisp as one of the parent varieties. Honeycrisp apples themselves originated as a cross between Macoun and Honeygold apples at the University of Minnesota in the 1960s. Since the commercial release of Honeycrisp in the early 1990s, apple breeders have been using it as a parent for new varieties due to its exceptional crispness, juiciness and flavor.
MN55
One of the more widely available apples thought to be a Honeycrisp cross is MN55, also known as RaveTM. MN55 is a cross between Honeycrisp and an unnamed variety bred by the University of Minnesota apple breeding program. It was introduced commercially in 2008.
Like Honeycrisp, MN55 is crisp and juicy with a sweet-tart flavor. It tends to be larger in size than Honeycrisp. Its skin has a bright red blush over a yellow background. MN55 ripens in late September to early October, at a similar time as Honeycrisp. It can store well into winter months.
MN55 is primarily grown in the upper Midwest region of the United States where it was bred, but is gaining popularity in other apple growing regions as well.
Cosmic Crisp
The apple variety Cosmic Crisp, released in 2019, is thought to have Honeycrisp as one of its parents. Cosmic Crisp was bred by Washington State University’s apple breeding program by crossing Honeycrisp with Enterprise.
Cosmic Crisp shares many of Honeycrisp’s desirable qualities – it is exceptionally crisp and juicy with a sweet-tart flavor. It also has a firm flesh that is slow to brown after cutting. Cosmic Crisp apples are larger in size than Honeycrisp.
One key difference is that Cosmic Crisp apple trees are more suitable for commercial orchards than Honeycrisp, which can be susceptible to issues like bitter pit. Cosmic Crisp also stores very well in cold storage – up to a year.
Cosmic Crisp was specifically bred to grow well in Washington state, which is the largest apple producing region in the United States. Plantings of Cosmic Crisp are rapidly expanding in Washington.
Lady Alice
Lady Alice apples resulted from a cross between Honeycrisp and an unnamed variety at the University of Minnesota breeding program. The breeders were looking to develop a high quality apple with greater cold hardiness than Honeycrisp that could be grown in colder climates.
Lady Alice apples are crisp and juicy like Honeycrisp, with a well-balanced sweet-tart flavor. They are smaller in size, averaging about 3 inches in diameter. The skin has a bright red blush over a greenish-yellow background.
One of the key traits of Lady Alice is its exceptional keeping quality – it stores in cold storage for 5-6 months after harvest. The trees also have good resistance to common apple diseases.
Lady Alice ripens late in the season, about 2-3 weeks after Honeycrisp. It was commercially introduced in 2006 but availability is still limited.
RubyFrost
RubyFrost is considered a “managed variety” resulting from a collaboration between Cornell University and New York apple growers. It is thought to be a cross between Honeycrisp and an unnamed variety.
RubyFrost was selected for its excellent storing capability along with its sweet-tart balanced flavor reminiscent of Honeycrisp. One unique trait of RubyFrost apples is their distinctive rosy-red skin, deeper in color than many other apple varieties.
The apples are medium to large in size. They ripen in October, around the same mid-late season timing as Honeycrisp. RubyFrost was commercially introduced in 2018 in the northeastern U.S. where it was bred.
SnapDragon
SnapDragon apples come from a Honeycrisp cross with an experimental variety from Cornell University’s apple breeding program. It was bred to retain Honeycrisp’s texture and flavor while improving production issues like bitter pit.
SnapDragon has Honeycrisp’s signature juicy crispness and flavor. The apple shape is oblate to round. Skin color is a bright red blush over a yellow background. Flesh is slow to oxidize and stores well.
The trees are vigorous and resistant to disease. SnapDragon ripens in mid-late October, around the same season as Honeycrisp. It was commercially introduced in 2015 in New York state where it was developed.
SweeTango
SweeTango apples resulted from a cross between Honeycrisp and Zestar! apples at the University of Minnesota. It was specifically developed as a replacement for Honeycrisp to overcome some of its horticultural challenges.
SweeTango has Honeycrisp’s texture, juiciness and sweet-tart taste. It has a larger size and more conical shape. Skin color has a red-orange blush. The flesh resists browning.
SweeTango trees are hardier and more productive than Honeycrisp. The fruit stores well for 2-3 months in refrigeration. SweeTango ripens in late August, earlier than Honeycrisp.
SweeTango is managed and grown under license to have limited but consistent supply each year. Plantings are concentrated in the upper Midwest.
EverCrisp
EverCrisp apples were developed by the Midwest Apple Improvement Association and are thought to be a cross between Honeycrisp and Fuji. They were bred to retain Honeycrisp’s texture while improving storage life and decreasing growing costs.
EverCrisp apples are notably crispy and juicy like Honeycrisp. They have a round to blocky shape with a distinctive star-shaped base. Skin has a bronze to dark red blush. Flesh is slow to brown.
The fruit store very well in controlled atmosphere conditions, lasting 6-8 months in storage. EverCrisp trees are cold hardy and resistant to common apple diseases. The variety ripens in late October and was introduced commercially in 2009.
Comparison of Characteristics
| Variety | Parentage | Texture | Flavor | Appearance | Harvest Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honeycrisp | Macoun x Honeygold | Very crispy | Sweet-tart | Red blush over yellow; round-oblate | Mid-late September |
| MN55 (RaveTM) | Honeycrisp x unnamed | Crispy | Sweet-tart | Red blush over yellow; round-oblate, large | Late September – early October |
| Cosmic Crisp | Honeycrisp x Enterprise | Very crispy | Sweet-tart | Red-orange blush over yellow; round, large | October – November |
| Lady Alice | Honeycrisp x unnamed | Crispy | Sweet-tart | Red blush over yellow-green; small | October – November |
| RubyFrost | Honeycrisp x unnamed | Crispy | Sweet-tart | Rosy red blush; medium-large | October |
| SnapDragon | Honeycrisp x experimental | Very crispy | Sweet-tart | Red blush over yellow; oblate-round | Mid-late October |
| SweeTango | Honeycrisp x Zestar! | Very crispy | Sweet-tart | Red-orange blush over yellow; conical, large | Late August |
| EverCrisp | Honeycrisp x Fuji | Very crispy | Mild sweet | Bronze to dark red blush; round-blocky | Late October |
Conclusion
In summary, there are several newer apple varieties on the market that are crosses involving Honeycrisp. These newer varieties aim to maintain Honeycrisp’s prized texture, juiciness and flavor while improving on traits like storage, disease resistance, productivity and growing costs.
Some of the most prominent Honeycrisp crosses include MN55 (RaveTM), Cosmic Crisp, Lady Alice, RubyFrost, SnapDragon, SweeTango and EverCrisp. They vary in exact harvest timing, appearance, flavor and other characteristics, but all share the signature Honeycrisp eating experience that consumers love.
As these newer varieties expand in commercial production, consumers will have even more options to enjoy crispy, juicy, flavorful apples in the coming years. Apple breeders continue honing in on the trailblazing qualities of Honeycrisp that started a sensory revolution in apples since its debut.
