Jonalicious Apples
Estimated Inventory, cs : 0
Description/Taste
Jonalicious apples are medium-sized fruits, averaging 6 to 7 centimeters diameter, and have a round to ovate shape with some russeting around the stem cavity. The smooth, semi-thick, and chewy skin is golden yellow to pale green, covered in large patches of red blush, striping, and yellow lenticels. Underneath the surface, the pale-yellow flesh is fine-grained, aqueous, and crisp, encasing a central, fibrous core filled with small, brown seeds. Jonalicious apples are aromatic with a balanced sweet, tart, and subtly tangy flavor with notes of green apple candy.
Seasons/Availability
Jonalicious apples are available in the fall through spring.
Current Facts
Jonalicious apples, botanically classified as Malus domestica, are an American specialty variety belonging to the Rosaceae family. The fruits were discovered growing naturally as a chance seedling in the early 20th century and were selected as a new variety, favored for their crisp, tangy flesh. Jonalicious apples are considered to be an all-purpose, early to mid-season variety, primarily found in the United States through farmer’s markets and orchard stands.
Nutritional Value
Jonalicious apples are a good source of fiber, which helps regulate digestion and promotes cardiovascular health. The apples also contain vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that assists in strengthening the immune system and provide some potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and iron.
Applications
Jonalicious apples are considered to be an all-rounder, table variety, utilized in both fresh and cooked applications such as baking and simmering. The fruits can be consumed, fresh out-of-hand as a snack, quartered and served with sweet dipping sauces, or sliced and tossed into fruit bowls, salads, and grain bowls. Jonalicious apples can also be baked into crisps, tarts, muffins, pies, and strudels, cooked into compotes, jellies, sauces, and jams, or pureed into applesauce. The sweet-tart fruits pair well with cheeses such as goat, blue, and brie, sweet potatoes, roasted meats such as pork, beef, and poultry, nuts such as hazelnuts, chestnuts, and walnuts, cranberries, apricots, and herbs such as rosemary, mint, and sage. Jonalicious apples are known for their extended storage capabilities and can be kept in a cool, dry, and dark place for 3 to 4 months.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Jonalicious apples are a favorite specialty cultivar grown in the Midwestern United States and are one of the apples featured at the annual Bayfield Apple Festival in Wisconsin. The festival was established by orchard owner Jim Erickson and was created as a public event to celebrate the fall fruit and encourage tourists to visit the small town of Bayfield. The first Bayfield Apple Festival drew approximately five thousand visitors in 1962, with the modern-day festival gathering crowds of over fifty thousand attendees. The apple celebration has garnered critical acclaim as the best small-town festival in the Midwest, and many different varieties such as the Jonalicious are showcased by local orchards to promote apple diversity. During the event, there are apple peeling contests, cider and orchard tours, live entertainment, and an apple queen beauty pageant. There are also over sixty food and drink vendors selling apple-themed dishes, including apple brats with apple mustard, caramel apples, apple pies, and crisps.
Geography/History
Jonalicious apples were first discovered growing as a chance seedling in Abilene, Texas, in 1933. Anna Morris Daniels found the apple tree naturally producing distinct fruits, despite its unknown parent varieties, and was selected for cultivation. The new variety was trialed, studied, and intentionally bred for over twenty-five years before it was released to the market in 1960 through Stark Bro’s Nursery. Today Jonalicious apples have found niche markets across the United States and are primarily cultivated through specialty growers or in home gardens of apple enthusiasts.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Jonalicious Apples. One
is easiest, three is harder.
