ENTERPRISE

​​About the Variety: Enterprise is a modern disease-resistant apple developed by Purdue University's PRI breeding program in 1993. Its complex parentage includes McIntosh, Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty, and the disease-resistant crabapple Malus floribunda. Enterprise was specifically bred for organic and low-spray orchards, offering exceptional disease resistance that makes it ideal for community orchard settings. It's also the parent of the popular Cosmic Crisp® apple.

 

Fruit Description: Medium to large glossy red apples with yellow highlights and numerous light lenticels giving a polka-dot appearance. The skin is notably thick and durable, which contributes to its disease resistance and storage ability. Flesh is yellow, medium-grained, firm, and crisp with a spicy aroma. Flavor is more sweet than tart when freshly picked, with a sprightly, balanced taste that develops more complexity during storage.

​

Harvest Window for Cincinnati/Southern Ohio: Early to Mid-October (typically October 5-20)

​

Ripeness Indicators:

• Deep maroon-red color develops fully

• Background color shifts from green to yellow

• Apples separate easily from spur with gentle upward twist

• Seeds turn from white to brown

• Flesh firmness remains crisp but loses "rock hard" feel

• Apples persist on tree well after ripening, allowing extended harvest window into early November
   

Disease Resistance:

• Immune to apple scab

• Highly resistant to cedar apple rust

• Highly resistant to fire blight

• Moderate resistance to powdery mildew
   

This exceptional disease resistance makes Enterprise the gold standard for organic community orchards requiring minimal intervention.
 

Best Uses:

• Fresh eating: Good for out-of-hand eating, especially after 1 month of storage when tartness develops

• Cooking/Baking: Excellent for pies, crisps, and applesauce where tart flavor shines

• Storage: Outstanding keeper - stores 3-6 months refrigerated with flavor improving over time
   

How to Share This Fruit: Enterprise's long hang time and excellent storage make it ideal for a harvest party followed by storage distribution. Pick in mid-October when weather is pleasant, invite community members for a harvest day where people can taste a few fresh but gather most fruit into bins. Store the bulk harvest in a cool location and distribute weekly shares through late fall and winter. The improving flavor in storage means people will appreciate Enterprise more in November and December than in October. Consider organizing a pie-baking workshop in late November when stored apples have developed their full tart complexity.