Walking through my local farmers' market last fall, I nearly tripped over a crate of odd-looking yellow apples. "Try this Egremont Russet," the grower urged. One bite of that gritty-textured, nutty-flavored fruit made me realize how little I actually knew about apple diversity. That got me digging into an apple rabbit hole that lasted weeks. Seriously, how many apple types are there worldwide? The answer shocked me more than finding a worm in my Honeycrisp.
The Mind-Boggling Numbers Behind Apple Diversity
Let's cut straight to the chase: globally, there are over 7,500 documented apple cultivars. Wrap your head around that number - it's like comparing a single crayon to the entire Pantone color chart. But before you panic about memorizing them all, relax. Only about 100 varieties dominate commercial production. The rest? They're hidden gems at orchards, preserved in heritage collections, or growing wild in Kazakhstan's mountains where apples originated.
Quick Reality Check: When someone asks "how many apple types are there?", they usually mean supermarket options. If that's you, focus on the next section about commercially available varieties. But if you're an apple geek like me now, keep reading for the juicy details.
Apples You'll Actually Find in Stores
Last Thanksgiving, I tried making pie with Fuji apples because they looked gorgeous. Big mistake - they turned into sweet mush. Lesson learned: knowing your apples matters. Here's the real-world breakdown you care about:
| Availability Level | Number of Apple Types | Where to Find Them | Season Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Supermarkets | 5-10 types | Walmart, Kroger, Tesco | Year-round (imported) |
| Specialty Grocers | 15-25 types | Whole Foods, Trader Joe's | Seasonal peaks |
| Farmers Markets | 30-50+ types | Local orchards, farm stands | Late summer to fall |
| Heritage Orchards | 100+ types | Specialty growers (mail order too) | Limited seasonal windows |
The ridiculous markup on heirloom apples still annoys me - $6/pound for Arkansas Blacks? But tasting that complex wine-like flavor changed my perspective. Sometimes premium means premium.
Top 12 Supermarket Apples Compared
After tasting my way through two crates of apples (and making way too much applesauce), here's what you really need to know:
| Apple Variety | Flavor Profile | Best Uses | Crunch Factor | Price Point (per lb) | My Honest Opinion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Delicious | Mildly sweet, bland | Decoration (seriously) | Mealy when old | $1.50-$2 | Looks better than it tastes |
| Gala | Sweet, floral | Snacking, salads | Crisp when fresh | $1.80-$2.50 | Kid favorite for good reason |
| Fuji | Very sweet, low acid | Eating raw, sauce | Rock-hard crunch | $2-$3 | Almost too sweet for me |
| Granny Smith | Tart, acidic | Baking, pairing with cheese | Extremely crisp | $2-$2.75 | My go-to pie apple |
| Honeycrisp | Sweet-tart, juicy | All-purpose superstar | Explosive crunch | $3-$5 | Worth the splurge |
| Pink Lady | Tangy-sweet balanced | Snacking, cheese boards | Firm and dense | $3-$4.50 | Perfect lunchbox apple |
| Cosmic Crisp | Sweet with tart finish | All purposes, stores well | Extra crunchy | $3.50-$5 | New favorite for storage |
| McIntosh | Tangy, aromatic | Sauce, cider | Softens quickly | $2-$3 | Messy but delicious |
Why Are There So Many Apple Types Anyway?
Visiting an orchard in Vermont, the owner showed me how apple genetics work. "See these seedlings?" he said, pointing to chaotic-looking trees. "Each one produces unique fruit." That's because:
- Cross-pollination chaos - Bees randomly mix apple genes
- Human selection - We've bred for traits since 300 BC
- Climate adaptation - Different varieties thrive in specific regions
- Purpose breeding - Some apples exist just for cider or baking
Fun fact I learned the hard way: planting apple seeds from your favorite fruit won't give you the same apple. Those Honeycrisp seeds? They'll produce something completely different.
Finding Rare Apples Near You
That Egremont Russet started my obsession. If you want to explore beyond supermarkets:
- Orchard directories - Check state agricultural sites (e.g., NY Apple Association)
- U-Pick seasons - Late August to October in most US regions
- Heritage festivals - Vermont Apple Fest (Oct), UK Apple Day (Oct 21)
- Mail-order specialists - Murray Family Farms (CA), Applesource (IL)
Warning: Hunting obscure apples gets addictive. I now have photos of 47 varieties in my phone. My friends think I need help.
Regional Apple Availability Guide
| Region | Common Varieties | Rare Finds to Seek | Best Harvest Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast US | McIntosh, Cortland, Empire | Ashmead's Kernel, Roxbury Russet | September-October |
| Pacific Northwest | Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp | King David, Calville Blanc | Late August-November |
| UK & Europe | Bramley, Cox's Orange Pippin | Egremont Russet, Pitmaston Pineapple | September-November |
| Australia/NZ | Pink Lady, Sundowner | Sturmer Pippin, Lady Williams | February-May (Southern Hemisphere) |
Apple Buying Hacks I've Learned
After bringing home too many mealy apples:
- Check the stem - Bendy stems mean older apples
- Weight matters - Heavier apples = juicier
- Sniff test - Good apples smell fresh, not musty
- Avoid shiny skins - Often indicates artificial waxing
- Seasonality is key - Buy local during harvest months
My worst purchase? Winter Red Delicious that tasted like cardboard. Never again.
Frequently Asked Apple Questions
How many apple types are grown commercially in the US?
Major orchards focus on about 15-20 varieties. But smaller farms grow hundreds of niche types. The USDA tracks 250+ cultivars, though most Americans regularly see only 8-10 in stores.
What's the rarest edible apple?
The Black Diamond apple - a purple-skinned variety grown only in remote Tibet. They sell for $7-10 per apple! I've never tasted one, but photos look unreal.
How many apple varieties have gone extinct?
Agricultural historians estimate thousands have disappeared. One heartbreaking loss? Nebraska's Blue Pearmain - described in 19th century texts as having blue-ish skin. Last seen in the 1920s.
Can you name every apple type?
No human alive knows all 7,500+. The UK's National Fruit Collection has 2,000 varieties, and even their curators admit it's impossible to memorize them all. When someone asks exactly how many apple types are there, even experts hedge.
Why does the number keep changing?
New cultivars emerge constantly (Cosmic Crisp debuted in 2019), while others vanish when orchards replant. The exact count fluctuates yearly. Searching "how many apple types are there" gives different numbers based on source reliability.
Preserving Apple Diversity Matters
Visishing the Temperate Orchard Conservancy in Oregon changed my perspective. Walking among 500+ varieties, the director shared a sobering fact: "We lose heritage apples daily to development and industrial farming." Their preservation work includes:
- Grafting endangered varieties - Saving genetics
- Seed banks - Storing wild apple seeds
- Educational programs - Teaching grafting workshops
You can help by buying heirloom apples at farmers' markets or planting heritage trees. My D'Arcy Spice sapling just produced its first three apples this year - triumph!
Final Thoughts on Apple Diversity
So how many apple types are there? Thousands exist globally, with hundreds available if you seek them out. But what matters more than the exact number is experiencing that diversity. Grab an unfamiliar variety next market day - maybe a tart Zabergau Reinette or perfumed Belle de Boskoop. Each bite connects you to centuries of agricultural history.
I'll leave you with this: My quest to try 100 apple varieties taught me that "common" apples are just the tip of the iceberg. The real magic lies in obscure orchards and backyard trees. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to check if my Winter Banana apples are ripe.
Leave a Message