Fruit: Apples: Sundowner

I saw these for the first time at the Grand Lake Farmers' Market this past weekend. They may have shown up earlier though, it's been a week or two since I've made it down there.

This apple was not particularly flavorful, but it had classic apple aromatics —as opposed to the floral qualities of the Pink Lady aromatics— and a clean tart taste. The red and white lenticles seen here are considered typical of the variety.

According to the Brandt's Fruit Trees website, the Sundowner (also known by the varietal name Cripps Red) is a product of the Western Australian Department of Agriculture Breeding Program. Like the Pink Lady, developed in the same program, it is a cross between Lady Williams and Golden Delicious apples.


Of particular interest to me, was the note about how late the fruit comes to maturity. In fact, in the Pacific Northwest it can't be brought to maturity.