Royal Gala Apples Delivery or Pickup

The Royal Gala apple is a crisp and mildly sweet fruit with yellowish-orange skin and pink to red stripes. These apple varieties are allowed to remain on the trees just until they reach their peak sweetness but before their flavor begins to disappear. This helps develop that sweet, juicy flesh and pear-like flavor the Royal Gala apple is known for. 

Royal Gala apples are Gala apples with more than half of their skin being red in color. That is the only difference between a Royal Gala and a Gala apple. Other than their color, they taste exactly the same. These fresh fruits make a great all-around snack. They are also full of flavor when made into applesauce or pressed into cider. Due to their sweet taste and floral aroma, they pair well with bold cheeses and full-bodied wines.

Gala apples, which are parents to the Royal Gala, originated in New Zealand in 1934. Apple breeder J.H. Kidd created a new apple variety by crossing a Kidd's Orange Red and a Golden Delicious. When Queen Elizabeth II visited New Zealand, she named this cross her favorite apple variety. After that visit, it was named Royal Gala in her honor. It was brought to the United States in the early 1970s and is now known as one of the country's best-loved apple hybrids. 

This delicious red fruit is one of the most extensively grown apples throughout the world. They are related to both the Delicious and Cox Orange Pippin varieties of apples. Royal Gala apples grow well in both warm and cold climates, which is why they are available year-round at supermarkets and grocery stores worldwide. They are grown in the southern hemisphere in New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, and in the northern hemisphere in the United States, England, France, Belgium, Slovenia, Holland, Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Poland.

In 2019, the Gala apple was the most-produced type of apple in the United States. They are available at grocery stores, farmers' markets, and fruit stands. Fresh, local varieties of Royal Gala apples have a sweeter flavor and longer shelf life. Fruits that are stored and shipped commercially are typically not as flavorful as their locally grown counterparts.

While Royal Galas are more flavorful when freshly harvested, there are specific times of the year that imported apples have a deeper, richer taste. From August to February, North American-grown apples are at their height of flavor and aroma. The growing season for apple orchards in New Zealand, Chile, and South Africa begins in March and ends in early July. 

Look for Royal Gala apples that are medium-sized. Those on the smaller end are nice as well, especially if you have small children. They are perfect for their little hands to hold and eat. 

If you see any of the following on your Royal Gala apples, you know they have either spoiled or are on their way out:

Instacart is committed to providing fresh fruits and vegetables to our customers. The Royal Gala apple is a nutrient-dense food that is available in many supermarkets and grocery stores. Simply add these delicious fruits to your cart, complete your purchase, and our Instacart shoppers will have them at your door in as little as 2 hours!