A Pink Pearl apple, on first glance, may cause some confusion. The skin of the small apple, is, after all, yellow-green, not pink. But like the pearls this variety of apple is named for, the beauty is hidden inside. Only by cutting open or biting into a Pink Pearl is the rosy interior revealed: often light pink, but sometimes a deep red.
The Pink Pearl is one of several red-fleshed apples. Bred in 1944 by horticulturist Albert Etter, it’s descended from another shockingly red-interior apple, the appropriately named “Surprise.” Etter bred dozens of apples with pink-and-red interiors, but many of his cultivars have disappeared. Luckily, the Pink Pearl has persisted, grown by orchardists in love with its sweet-tart taste and its burst of color.
Need to Know
Pink Pearl apples are rare, and are usually available in late summer on the United States West Coast.
Where to Try It
-
Devoto Gardens & Orchards
One San Francisco Bay Trail, San Franscisco, California, 94111, United StatesOn Saturdays at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco, this orchard sells Pink Pearls (when in season).
-
Along with the requisite Granny Smiths and Honeycrisps, this farm grows Pink Pearls.
Contributed by
