This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = apple(GDF v2.0, 3735 attributes, 28 sections).Renderer:
commodity_profile_rendererv1.0.0. Source row version:knowledge_forge_gdf_v2.0_export_2026-04-06.
Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Apple |
| Scientific name | Malus domestica |
| Family / Genus | Rosaceae / Malus |
| Produce category | Pome Fruit |
| Produce subcategory | Deciduous Tree Fruit |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4131 |
| PLU — organic | 94131 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_564 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 7500.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gala | 18.5% | Sweet, crisp, thin red-striped skin over yellow background. Moderately firm with mild flavor. Popular for fresh eating and lunch boxes. |
| Red Delicious | 12% | Deep red color, elongated shape with five knobs at base. Mildly sweet, soft texture. Historically dominant variety now declining in popularity. |
| Granny Smith | 11% | Bright green skin, very tart and crisp. Excellent for baking and cooking. Slow to brown when cut. Very firm texture. |
| Fuji | 10.5% | Very sweet, dense, crisp flesh. Red-pink blush over yellow-green background. Excellent storage life. High sugar content (15-18° Brix). |
| Honeycrisp | 9% | Exceptionally crisp, juicy texture with explosive cells. Sweet-tart balance. Red mottled skin. Premium price point. Requires careful handling. |
| Golden Delicious | 7.5% | Yellow-gold skin, sweet mild flavor. Versatile for fresh eating and cooking. Tender skin bruises easily. Does not brown quickly when cut. |
| Pink Lady / Cripps Pink | 6% | Distinctive pink-red blush, sweet-tart flavor, very crisp. Late season variety. Consistent quality. Trademarked brand (Pink Lady). |
| Cosmic Crisp | 4.5% | New variety (2019 commercial release). Extremely crisp, firm, juicy. Sweet with slight tartness. Exceptional storage life. Dark red with lenticels. |
| Ambrosia | 3% | Very sweet, low acidity, aromatic. Creamy white flesh. Red-pink striped skin. Discovered as chance seedling in British Columbia. |
| McIntosh | 2.5% | Red and green bicolor skin, very aromatic. Tender white flesh. Popular in northeastern US and Canada. Breaks down easily when cooked. |
| Braeburn | 2% | Complex sweet-tart flavor, very crisp and firm. Red-orange striped over green-yellow. Excellent for fresh eating and cooking. New Zealand origin. |
| Jazz | 1.8% | Cross between Braeburn and Gala. Sweet-tart, dense, crisp. Compact size. Trademarked club variety with controlled production. |
| Envy | 1.5% | Cross between Braeburn and Royal Gala. Very sweet, crisp, slow to brown. Deep red color. Club variety with premium positioning. |
| Rome Beauty | 1.2% | Large, round, bright red. Primarily a baking apple - holds shape well when cooked. Mildly tart. Thick skin. |
| Jonagold | 1% | Cross between Jonathan and Golden Delicious. Large, sweet-tart balanced flavor. Yellow with red blush. Popular in Europe. |
| Empire | 0.8% | Cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious. Dark red, crisp, sweet-tart. McIntosh heritage flavor in firmer texture. Popular in Northeast. |
| Cortland | 0.5% | McIntosh-type apple. Very slow to brown when cut. Tart-sweet, tender flesh. Good for salads and fresh eating. Northeast favorite. |
| Arkansas Black | 0.3% | Very dark red to purple-black skin. Extremely hard and tart at harvest, mellows in storage. Heirloom variety (1870s). Excellent keeper. |
| Gravenstein | 0.2% | Green with red stripes. Aromatic, sweet-tart, juicy. Does not store well. Primarily for fresh eating and applesauce. German origin (1600s). |
| SweeTango | 0.8% | Cross between Honeycrisp and Zestar. Crisp, sweet-tart, aromatic. Early season. Club variety with managed production. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: null°F.
- Freezing point: 29.3°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 2 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_high |
| Production rate (20°C) | 50 μL/kg·h typical (10–150) |
| Sensitivity class | moderate |
| Sensitivity threshold | 1 ppm |
| Climacteric? | Yes |
Agent note: CRITICAL: Apples are one of the highest ethylene producers in cold chain. Must segregate from ethylene-sensitive loads. Can use ethylene scrubbers in mixed storage facilities. Cultivar variation significant - Granny Smith produces less than Gala or McIntosh.
Mixed-load compatibility
Group 1: Apples compatible with pears, kiwifruit at 30-32°F. Separate from ethylene-sensitive produce
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Stable to slightly declining overall volume demand (-0.5% annually) but growing value demand driven by premium varieties. Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp, and club varieties gaining market share. Foodservice recovery post-pandemic supporting wholesale demand.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.78 |
| Income elasticity | 0.32 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -0.52 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Gala | 19.5% |
| Red Delicious | 16.2% |
| Granny Smith | 13.8% |
| Fuji | 12.4% |
| Honeycrisp | 11.7% |
| Golden Delicious | 7.3% |
| Cripps Pink/Pink Lady | 5.1% |
| McIntosh | 3.9% |
| Rome | 2.8% |
| Other | 7.3% |
Pack sizes
- 40 lb carton/case (standard)
- 42 lb carton
- 38-40 lb tray carton
- 20 lb half carton
- 3 lb consumer bag
- 5 lb consumer bag
- 2 lb pouch bag
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T22:30:00.000Z.