York Apple Delivery or Pickup

In 1820, Quaker farmer Jonathan Jessup took grafts from a tree at neighboring John Kline's farm near York, Pennsylvania, and brought them to his Springwood Farm, where he developed the York apple. It quickly became famous for its dense, crisp texture, sweet flavor, and ability to keep better than other apples. 

Originally this cultivar became known as Jonathan's Fine Winter after Jessop, yet some credit John Kline for finding the apples and bringing them to Jessop. It was Jessop who continued to develop the York apple that eventually earned it such fame. In the 1850s, Andrew Jackson Downing named the York "the imperial keeper" for its storage ability, which is why it's also known as the York Imperial.

Jessop was responsible for bringing the York apple to orchards in Baltimore and Virginia, where it still thrives. The York apple has given birth to many varieties, including four sport varieties: Commander York, Ramey York, Red Yorking, and Yorking apples.

The York apple has an intense sweet and tart taste with firm flesh and a distinctive lop-sided shape. It has a deep red color with green streaks and can present with slight russet. The versatility of the York apple stems from its crunchy texture and ability to sweeten over time. These two features allow the York apple to hold up during cooking and enjoy extended cold storage that only improves the flavor. You'll find the York apple in grocery stores during prime apple season from September to February. The popularity of the York apple earned it a top ten variety in the United States.

York apples are delicious as a fresh snack. Their sweet, crunchy texture lends well to baking them in pies or using them in other desserts like apple crumble. Thinly sliced, the York apple makes a great addition to your favorite salad.

Your local grocer receives York apples ripe and ready to eat, so there are no unripe apples to avoid. You should look for spoiled apples, as one spoiled apple can ruin the bushel. Unfortunately, apples are responsible for their own demise. They emit a gas called ethylene which induces ripening. Because of their porous skin, this gas escapes and spreads to neighboring apples. Bruises or blemishes allow the ethylene to escape more quickly, accelerating the process.

You should avoid selecting apples with bruising or other blemishes, which can be done when selecting single apples. When a grocer or distributor bags the apples for convenient bulk sales, you don't have the option to choose your apples. In this case, you should carefully examine the apples within the bag. If you find a bruised or blemished apple inside, you should choose another pack.

York apples have an exceptional ability to stay crisp over long periods when properly stored. Plus, they have the added benefit of sweetening with age. At room temperature, York apples will last up to two weeks. In the refrigerator, they can last for several months or more. If you plan on slicing them for a snack but eating them later, rubbing them with lemon juice will help prevent browning.

Using the Instacart app to shop for York apples can save you time. Simply add the quantity of York apples to your cart and check out. After checkout, an Instacart shopper will shop your order, and in as little as 2 hours, have it ready for in-store pick-up! Some orders may even qualify for same-day home delivery!