Crimson CrispTM apple

Crimson Crisp apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

USDA identification images for Crimson Crisp

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

Visitor reviews

• 29 Jul 2023 

  Haven’t harvested any fruit yet but the tree seems to have a scab infection, where it has been advertised as “scab immune “. Hoping this is due to transplant stress and not going to be a future problem
• 18 Jun 2023 

  My first year Crimson Crisp trees are doing great. They do, however, seem to be very sensitive to powdery mildew. I have already applied two mildew treatments. Hopefully they will show more resistance as they grow and develop. Anyone else notice powdery mildew sensitivity with Crimson Crisp?
• 08 Oct 2020  WISCONSIN, United States

  Brilliant red color. Right from the orchard they had a classic sour apple taste (like a Jolly Rancher with less sweet). Too tart to be good eating but should pair well with peanut butter or caramel. Ten days later much of that tartness has been replaced with sweetness. Great eating apple now with a classic flavor, good sweetness and just enough tartness for me.
• 23 Jan 2020  CALIFORNIA, United States

  This is my all-time favorite during its brief season. We get our apples from Prevedelli Farms, and I look forward to Crimson Crips all year.
• 21 Dec 2019  FLORIDA, United States

  LOVE LOVE LOVE them!! Crisp firm & slightly sweet!! Finally found them on a trip recently in Iowa. Usually buy Fugi but this is our new fav. Hope to find them again soon.
• 01 Nov 2019  CA, United States

  Very beautiful red, tart, tannin with tannic taste of skin still left on the tongue. I won't be buying these but if your pallet is less on the sweet side and more to the tart/tannic then you may want to try it though I still prefer the Jazz apple in that category.
• 25 Sep 2019  MARYLAND, United States

  Just found this for the first time at a farmers market near me. Honeycrisp were my all time favorite, but I think the crisp texture along with being a *little* bit less sweet than honeycrisps May put these out on top
• 24 Oct 2018  MI, United States

  I discovered Crimson Crisps two years ago while on a trip to Upstate New York. I fell in love with this apple, and it's my new favorite! We returned to NY earlier this month and I was able to buy more. They're a wonderful eating apple, and they keep extremely well. I live in Michigan and have recently learned a few orchards near me are starting to grow this variety, so I am hoping I'll start seeing them offered locally in the next couple years.
• 10 Oct 2017  United Kingdom

  Outstanding firm crisp texture and rich tart flavour. Doesn't quite have the complexity of a top-notch cox orange pippin but certainly one of the best available commercially grown apple varieties.
• 28 Sep 2017  PA, United States

  Update--I won't be buying this one again because the grower has priced it at $70 per bushel, with all other "normal" apple varieties priced at the regular $30 per bushel. Definitely NOT worth more than twice the price of any other apple, as it is a very small fruit (when you're peeling for pies it's a pain) and while the flavor was good, it's still not as good as Melrose or Winesap and it didn't keep as well.
• 21 Sep 2017  PA, United States

  Crunchy, juicy, flavor is complex sweet plus tart with somewhat metallic aftertaste. Great in pie but on the small side (more peeling and coring work).
• 07 Oct 2016  PENNSYLVANIA, United States

  Bought these for the first time several weeks ago. They are fantastic.
• 16 Sep 2016  NY, United States

  'Tis apple season! I purchased this lovely red apple from the Prospect Hill stand at the Friday Union Square Farmer's Market. I found it diamond hard and tart as a sour pucker.
• 10 Oct 2015  PA, United States

  I love this apple! It has such a complex, rich flavor and is very, very crisp. Beats Honey Crisp hands down.
• 29 Sep 2015  WASHINGTON, DC, United States

  Met this apple last year and it was love at first bite. For years I've preferred Honey Crisp (like everybody by now), but it's over between us, Honey, you've been trumped by the Crimson! I think you tasting notes are right on. Just yesterday, after sharing Crimson Crisp with a friend (who loved it as well), I said it's like spiced cider in solid apple form. Such a beautiful red, and just as crisp as my former appley love, but even better texture and taste. Gotta have 'em! (They don't stick around long enough for me to comment on their shelf life.)
• 21 Sep 2014  CT, United States

  I tasted one yesterday and found it to be sweet and crisp. The color was very red.
• 15 Mar 2014  WASHINGTON, United States

  CC is very tasty crisp, hard, red, holds on the tree tight, even when fully ripe. Keeps into February crisp even at 40 deg garage, 1/2 flavor then, almost indistinct from Pixie Crunch. Excellent for espalier because of long holding , clear red and NO Scab
• 24 Sep 2012  United States

  My new favorite apple.
• 07 Feb 2012  PA, United States

  My tree of this variety sadly only produced one apple this year, but what an apple it was! I hope my tree will share many more of these crisp, sweet, slightly tart, juicy delights with me the coming season. This apple has an outstanding texture.

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• United Kingdom1
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Where to buy trees

The following tree nurseries offer Crimson Crisp apple trees for sale:

• Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (USA) United States
  CrimsonCrisp apple trees

Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Crimson Crisp:

United States

• Georgia

  • Freedom Farms - Apple & Peach Orchard, Chatsworth
  • Mercier Orchards, Blue Ridge

• Illinois

  • Meadowmoor Orchard, Woodstock

• Indiana

  • Harker Family Farms & Orchard, Waldron

• Iowa

  • Wilson's Orchard, Iowa City

• Maine

  • Hooper's Orchard, Monroe
  • Plowshares Community Farm, Gorham
  • Tiny Orchards, Saco

• Michigan

  • Friske Orchards & Farm Market, Ellsworth

• New Hampshire

  • Appleview Orchard, Pittsfield
  • Lull Farm, Hollis
  • Old Ciderpress Farm, Westmoreland

• New York

  • Bellinger's Apple Orchard, Fultonville

• Ohio

  • Charlie's Apples at Windy Hill Apple Farm, Newark

• Pennsylvania

  • Grim's Greenhouse & Farm Market, Breinigsville
  • Kauffman's Fruit Farm, Bird-in-Hand
  • Ross Run Ranch, Tionesta

• Virginia

  • Sweet Rose Farm, Blue Grass

• Washington

  • Skipley Farm, Snohomish        *** Feature Orchard ***

• Wisconsin

  • Door Creek Orchard, Cottage Grove
  • Peck & Bushel Fruit Company, Town of Erin/City of Colgate
  • Sutter's Ridge Orchard, Mt Horeb