What would the Apple Capital of Minnesota website be without at least one page dedicated to the reason we’re a city at all?

The “father of the orchardists” and “godfather” of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, John S. Harris (1826-1901) left a sweet and juicy legacy.

John S. Harris, Minnesota’s first successful apple grower, moved to La Crescent in 1856. He settled near the base of what is now Apple Blossom Drive as it heads up the bluffs from La Crescent. There he planted his first apple trees in 1857, the year that La Crescent was incorporated.

Harris grew up on a farm in Ohio where he began his own small nursery at age 11. Harris moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1851, where he was married in the second wedding held in the young city. He and his bride started their market gardening business but soon decided that the grass was greener and the soil more accommodating on the other side of the river. They moved to La Crescent in 1856 where they established Sunny Side Gardens, a fruit, flower, and vegetable farm. Although most people agreed with Horace Greeley’s notorious 1860 assessment that apples wouldn’t grow in the often-harsh conditions of the brand new state, Harris was undeterred. He planted more trees every year, thousands in total. He shared his experiences, along with apples and seeds, with his neighbors. In his persistent pursuit of apples that would thrive in Minnesota, Harris experimented with hundreds of varieties, most of which, he admitted, were failures.

At the 1866 Minnesota State Fair, his exhibit of 20 apple varieties inspired the state’s fruit growers to form the Minnesota Fruit Growers Association. In 1868, the group changed its name to the Minnesota Horticultural Society and Harris was elected president in the following year. Harris continued to farm and exhibit his produce for the rest of his life. His entries won 19 prizes at the 1900 State Fair, and he died with his boots on as he said he wanted to, about six months later.

Historic John Harris - Explore La Crescent
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Van Lin Orchards

Van Lin Orchards is located at 4002 Tschumper Rd, La Crescent, MN. Open weekends Sept. – Nov. for u-pick apples and pumpkins, pre-packaged apples, and other seasonal gift offerings. Over 15 varieties grown on the orchard.

Southwind Orchards

Southwind Orchards is located at 45440 County Road 12, Dakota, MN. Open daily late August until November.  Offering pre-packaged apples, honey, cider, salsa and other seasonal gift offerings. Over 28 varieties grown on the orchard.

Bauer’s Market

Bauer’s Market and Garden Center is located at Hwy 14&61, La Crescent, MN. Open daily and year round. Featuring local apples July – March and other seasonal local produce, and gift offerings.

Hein Applestand

Hein Apple Stand is located just south of the stoplights on Hwy 16, La Crescent, MN. Open daily August – December for fresh local apples seasonal produce,  baked goods, and other seasonal gift offerings.

Minnesota Apple Varieties

All these varieties were developed in Minnesota. In this short list each variety is identified by its harvest season, texture – crisp to soft, and by its flavor – sweet and tangy to tart, and uses.

Early Season Harvest

SweeTango®

SweeTango® is juicy and sweet with hints of fall spices. This apple’s thin skin makes it a favorite for eating. This apple inherited the crisp texture of Honeycrisp and the juiciness of Zestar!® Ripening in early September, this is one of several apples developed at the University of Minnesota.

State Fair

Harvested in mid-late August, prior to the Minnesota State Fair, this apple has a firm and creamy flesh. Its juicy aroma and slightly tart flavor makes this apple an excellent choice for fresh eating or cooking. Introduced in 1977 by the University of Minnesota, this apple is hardy to withstand the Minnesota cold winters.

Zestar

Large, crunchy, juicy red fruit with a sprightly sweet-tart flavor with a hint of brown sugar. Excellent for both fresh eating and cooking. Zestar apples are a great early season apple that has a strong shelf life of over a month, providing you convenience and delicious taste.

Mid Season Harvest

Honeycrisp

Honeycrisp, a mid-September apple is exceptionally crisp and juicy with just a hint of tartness that makes it perfect for eating fresh off the tree. Named the Minnesota State Fruit in 2006, the Honeycrisp was produced from a 1960 cross of Macoun and Honeygold apples and is one of the top 10 best-selling apples in the U.S.

Sweet Sixteen

Sweet Sixteen is another University of Minnesota apple. Crisp and juicy with a yellow flesh and a very sweet, unusual sugar cane or spicy cherry candy flavor, the fruit stores for 5 to 8 weeks. Introduced in 1977, this is a popular apple with the locals.

La Crescent

La Crescent, yes there is actually an apple named La Crescent, which ripens in late August is a tart apple with a soft texture. The La Crescent was first grown in La Crescent by an orchardist originally from Holland. Frank Van Lin, of Van Lin Orchards, chose to name it after his new hometown, La Crescent. Thank you, Frank.

Late Season Harvest

Wealthy

Wealthy apples were developed in 1868 near Lake Minnetonka by Peter Gideon who named them after his wife, Wealthy Gideon. Wealthy apples hold the honor of being the first commercialized variety grown in Minnesota. Ripening in early September with a tart flavor and soft texture, it’s a good variety for cider and excellent for desserts.

Haralson

One of the oldest varieties introduced by the Minnesota Horticulture Research Center in 1922. Named for Charles Haralson, superintendent of the University of Minnesota Fruit Breeding Farm, these apples are crisp and juicy with a tart flavor. They are especially good for eating, apple crisps and pies.

Honeygold

Honeygold is a cross between the Haralson and Golden Delicious apples. This sweet, crisp, and juicy apple is perfect for eating, baking, and freezing. Ripening in late September, the Honeygold will store for two to three months.

Honey Crisp 1 - Explore La Crescent

Frostbite™

Frostbite™ is a small apple which is intensely sweet with a firm and juicy flesh. Frostbite™ was one of the first varieties developed by the University of Minnesota, but only released around 2008. This apple is excellent for cider. Typically measuring about 2”, the Frostbite™ is the perfect size for a child’s hand.

Fireside/Connell Red

Fireside/Connell Red apples are a sweet and crisp apple harvested mid October. The texture is chunky making them perfect for cooking and sauce. Fireside/Connell Red apples are very large and flavorful. Another University of Minnesota variety, the Fireside/Connell Red apple was first introduced in 1943.