All About Hybrid Apples | Publix Super Market | The Publix Checkout

All About Hybrid Apples
They say a hybrid apple a day keeps the doctor away. Well, that’s not exactly the saying, but chances are, your favorite apple is probably a hybrid. These apples are a cross between two apples and are created in one of two ways: cross-breeding or chance seedlings. Cross breeding is performed on purpose to create a specific kind of apple, whereas chance seedlings happen by chance when apples are grown in the field. Normally, it takes around 18-20 years to successfully make a cross-breed apple that can be sold on our shelves.
Why Do Hybrids Exist?
Hybrid apples are grown for a few reasons: taste, color and stability. The taste is usually the most important factor, since the apples pull their taste from their parentage. It’s not uncommon for two apples on opposite ends of the spectrum, like tart and sweet, to pull together to create a mid-range apple. Our hybrid apples are natural crosses and non-GMO, so you can enjoy them without worrying about being genetically modified. From Honeycrisps to Fujis to Galas, we’re breaking down our favorite hybrid apples.
Apple Varieties
Honeycrisp:
Taste- Crisp, sweet, a little tart and very juicy Look- Yellow background with a blushing scarlet overlay Cross between- Sweet Keepsake apple and mildly sweet apple that was never named Origin- They were discovered in 1960 after being a part of a breeding program at the University of Minnesota and hit shelves in grocery stores across the country in 1991.
Gala:
Taste- Sweet Look- Red blush coloring Cross between- Sweet Kidd’s Orange apple and sweet Golden Delicious apples Origin- They were discovered in 1934 in New Zealand and introduced to us commercially in the 1970s. Their sweet flavoring has made them one of the most popular apples across the world.
Fuji:
Taste- Crunchy, sweet Look- Slight red blush and red stripes Cross between- Mildly sweet Red Delicious apple and sweet Ralls Janet apples Origin- They originated in Japan in the 1930s and were introduced to the US in 1962. Most believe these apples were named after Mt. Fuji, but they were named after the town they were created in, Fujisaki, Japan.
Ambrosia:
Taste- Sweet and honey-like Look- A fluorescent pink blush and creamy yellow bi-coloring Cross between- Sweet Golden Delicious apple and sweet Starking Delicious apple Origin- These apples were discovered in Canada as a chance seedling in 1987. The first time the public saw these apples was during an apple festival in Vancouver.
Pink Lady:
Taste– Sweet and tart Look- Pinky, blushed exteriors Cross between- Sweet Golden Delicious apple and tart and mildly sweet Lady Williams apple Origin- These apples originated in 1973 in Australia and made their way to the US by the late 1990s.
Evercrisp:
New to our stores! Make sure to check out the latest hybrid apple, the Evercrisp. This apple is a cross between a Honeycrisp and Fuji apple. Pick up this sweet apple at your local store for the perfect snack.
Jackie J. became a Publix associate in 2017 after deciding to take her love of food to the next level. She began working with the Social Media team at that time and she immediately fell in love with life at Publix. In her spare time, she bakes to relax and creates yummy morsels for friends and family to munch on. When she isn’t working, you can probably find her playing with her cat and dog (Nila and Oreo), at a theme park or watching a Harry Potter Movie Marathon.
2 Comments on “All About Hybrid Apples”
Thanks for the question, Jeffery. I reached out to our buyer and was told that these apples were discontinued due to slow movement. The buyer recommended reaching out to your local Produce team, because they might be able to special order them for you.