GOLDEN SUPREME

Synonym: None

Parentage: Chance seedling

Color: Yellow with pink blush on exposed fruit

Harvest: Mid to late August; multiple pickings

Fruit: Attractive, medium to large, ideally conic but often more flat (somewhat oblate) in this climate. Generally a smooth finish, but may have slightly raised and rough lenticels. Lenticels resemble those of Golden Delicious – tan-colored and slightly irregular. Considered russet resistant, but occasionally has a small amount of smooth russet in the cavity. In some years fruit exhibits scarfskin on the shoulder. This apple ranks as one of the most attractive among newer varieties tested at this site. Subject to sunburn, that is most distinguishable on the blush. The cavity is shallow and open and occasionally subject to stem-end splitting. The stem is medium length and somewhat thick. This apple is prone to excessive preharvest fruit drop. The flesh is firm, moderately crisp, and juicy to very juicy. The flesh is white to light-cream colored; it browns slowly when exposed to air. The flavor is sweet to mildly sweet and pleasant with little or no detectable acid (unlike Golden Delicious). Storage life appears to be about 4 months. Fruit do not shrivel in storage. Shelf life appears to be limited to about 5 days. Only moderately susceptible to bitter rot.  Low susceptibility to plum curculio, tufted apple bud moth and redbanded leafroller.  Moderately susceptible to tarnished plant bug, codling moth and oriental fruit moth.

Tree: Extremely vigorous, generally upright, but appears to have good crotch strength. Has a tendency toward blind wood. Cumulative yields over the first 4 seasons have been good but tend toward titleernate bearing. Blooms mid- to later in season. Moderate resistance to scab and powdery mildew and good resistance to cedar apple rust.  Low susceptibility to European red mite.  Moderately susceptible to rosy apple aphid, Japanese beetle and spotted tentiform leafminer.  Highly susceptible to white apple leafhopper.

Market Potential: Good to excellent: local sales; retail and wholesale fresh market; processing.