The Honeycrisp Apple Has a Pretty Incredible Minnesota Story

Minnesota may be better known for our lakes, loons, and legendary winters, but there’s another fall tradition where the North Star State has a surprisingly big claim to fame. One of America’s most beloved apples was developed right here in Minnesota, and its story is pretty darn sweet.

Much like watching the Vikings play football (or, in my case, the Packers), or putting something hearty like a pot roast in the crock pot, heading to an apple orchard during the autumn season is a yearly tradition for many of us here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. 

Minnesota Apple Orchards Make Fall a Beloved Tradition

If you're going to take part in this autumnal rite of passage, there are a lot of choices here in the North Star State. According to the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service, there are roughly 115–140 retail apple orchards operating across the state.

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How Much Apple Production Does Minnesota Have?

Apple picking and apple sales are a big business here in the Bold North. Apples are a $14 million industry in the North Star State, according to the University of Minnesota, with commercial apple orchards currently operating in 78 of our 87 counties. All those orchards produce roughly 16 million pounds of fruit annually, the USDA says.

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And while several other states produce way more apples than we do-- like Wisconsin, for instance, which produces nearly 39 million pounds every year-- Minnesota is a legitimate apple state. But we're particularly well known for cold-hardy varieties, including one very popular apple which was invented (or, more accurately, developed) right here, at the University of Minnesota.

Honeycrisp Was Developed at the University of Minnesota

That variety is, of course, the Honeycrisp. And Minnesota's Honeycrisp connection is huge. The Honeycrisp variety was developed at the University of Minnesota and released in 1991. That's helped give Minnesota an outsized reputation in the apple world, seeing as states like Washington, New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan all grow way more apples than we do.

Plus, some of Minnesota's orchards have been highlighted as being some of the best in the country. Last year, USA Today's 10 Best Apple Orchard List nominated Pleasant Valley Orchard near Taylors Falls, Minnesota, as one of the top 10 orchards in the U.S.

So the next time you bite into an explosively crisp apple this fall, remember Minnesota's connection to one of the most popular varieties available. Another cool (literally!) tradition that many Minnesotans like to take part in during the fall season is checking out a corn maze. Luckily, our fair state has more than its share to satisfy your corn curiosity, as well. Keep scrolling to check out some of the best in Minnesota this autumn.