The History of the Honeycrisp Apple

For the past few decades, I have usually tried to grab a bag of Honeycrisp apples. Where did they come from? Who developed them?

The Honeycrisp apple variety (known in Europe as the 'Honeycrunch' Apple) has slowly made its way into America's top five most-produced apple varieties. Seven seasons ago, the Honeycrisp variety made up 6.3% of the United States apple harvest. Last season, in 2021-22, it doubled that figure to 13.7%.

As of last year's apple harvest, the Honeycrisp is now the 4th most produced variety in the US.

Let's go back to the beginning. Who (or what company) created and cultivated the Honeycrisp apple?

I (wrongly) believed that West Matthison and his crew at Stemilt developed the Honeycrisp variety here in Washington. I would have put money down and bet the mortgage on that!

Honeycrisp was developed at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) by the Minnesota Ag Experiment Station’s Horticultural Research Center. The year the variety was first given its test designation was in 1974. In these early stages, this now-popular variety was almost disregarded and canceled.

First known to the world as "MN 1711", it was patented in 1988.

The first year Honeycrisp finally reached consumers was in the fall of 1997. The University of Minnesota trademarked its name, and the variety is Minnesota’s official state fruit.

'The apple wasn’t bred to grow, store, or ship well. It was bred for taste: Crisp with balanced sweetness and acidity' - Bloomberg “The Curse of the Honeycrisp Apple” (November 2018)

Early reports claimed that the Honeycrisp variety was bred from a hybrid of the Macoun and the Honeygold. Extensive testing and computer analysis have since refuted this origin story. 

New conclusive evidence shows that the Honeycrisp comes from a hybrid of the KEEPSAKE (FROSTBITE and NORTHERN SPY) and an unreleased University of Minnesota variety. This "unnamed variety" hybridized THE DUCHESS OF OLDENBERG and the GOLDEN DELICIOUS.

Think of the Honeycrisp with its grandparents: The Frostbite, Northern Spy, Duchess of Oldenburg, and the Golden Delicious. 

The US patent for the Honeycrisp paid the University of Minnesota over 10 million dollars.

With this money, the university and its researchers have created even more delicious varieties, including the SweeTango. The Minneiska, or its commercial name, SweeTango, is a hybrid of the Zestar apple variety and the Honeycrisp.

Another variety born from the Honeycrisp lineage is the SugarBee, a cross between the Honeycrisp and an “unknown variety.”

Recent two years of US Apple Production. (SOURCE: Northwest Horticultural Council)

2021-2022

1 - Gala (19.5% trending DOWN almost 4%)

2 - Red Delicious (15.09% trending DOWN almost 3%)

3 - Granny Smith  (14.0% trending UP nearly 3%)

4 - Honeycrisp (13.7% trending UP 3 ½ %)

5 - Fuji (12.5% remains FLAT…slightly down)

2020-2021

1 - Gala (23.3% remains FLAT…slightly down)

2 - Red Delicious (18.6% trending DOWN almost 1 ½ %)

3 - Fuji (13.2% remain FLAT…slightly up)

4 - Honeycrisp (12.2%...UP almost 1%) What are the characteristics of the Honeycrisp apple that make it so popular?

5 - Granny Smith (11.8%...DOWN almost 1%)

SOURCES: Bloomberg Media, Northwest Horticultural Council