The Honeycrisp Apple

It took the Honeycrisp Apple over 30 years from its creation to reaching the shelf at a grocery store. Created in 1960 at the University of Minnesota, the Honeycrisp is a cross between a Keepsake and MN1627, an unreleased variety of apples.

In the spring of 1991, the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station's Horticultural Research Center official released the apple to be grown by local breeders. However, it was not until 1997 that the first Honeycrisp would reach a grocery shelf.

While the Research Center almost threw out the apple initially, it has now become the fifth most common apple sold in the United States. Also, it is officially the most planted apple in Washington, the largest apple producer in the country. Along with being so widely popular, it is also Minnesota's state fruit.