Bietigheimer

An old grafted tree was discovered on Cranberry Isle off Mount Desert and brought to our attention by Barbara Myers over 20 years ago. For lack of an identity we called it Cranberry Island. Now we've identified it as the old German variety Bietigheimer, a much less romantic-sounding name that is difficult to pronounce, unless, of course, you speak German. The apple is a bit of a chameleon; it was first known as Vineuse Rouge ("Wine Red") more than 400 years ago. Later it became known as Roter Stettiner. About 150 years ago it made its way to the US where it gained popularity along the Downeast coast. Most likley the apple came over with one of the four million Germans who arrived in the United States between 1850 and 1897 through the ports of Baltimore, Boston, New Orleans, New York, and Philadelphia. He or she was most likely from Bietigheim, a village in the district of Rastatt in Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany near the French border.

The huge ribbed, red fruit is hardy, early ripening and suitable for fresh eating and general cooking. If you decide to eat it as a dessert fruit, you will want to share it with a friend or two or three. It is way too big to eat alone. It may well be a good baker although we've not tried it yet.