Grimes Golden

 
 

Place of Origin:  Brooke County, WV - or - Smithfield, OH

Year: 1790 - or - 1786, earlier

Parentage:  Chance seedling

Uses:  Cider, Eating, Baking

History at Three Springs: Planted in 2010 for farmers markets

Some reports suggest this variety being sold in markets in New Orleans as early as 1804, originating from seedlings discovered by Samuel Wood of Smithfield, OH. Other accounts attribute the variety to Thomas Grimes, who purchased a Brooke County, WV farm from George Crawford, who had planted them. However, there's far less doubt that Grimes Golden is a parent variety of the ubiquitous Golden Delicious, making it an ancient ancestor of many popular modern apples. For its part, Grimes Golden is crisp, juicy, and feels the slightest bit effervescent when eaten. A subtle spicy note can be detected often lacking in its progeny. Historically, a popular variety in cidermaking as well.


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