Ben Davis

One of the most famous of all 19th-century apples. The most widely grown variety of its time, from Maine to Georgia. Millions of barrels were shipped to Europe. Many people made their fortunes on this apple. Large roundish-conic fruit, unbelievably beautiful red-striped and blushed. An orchardist’s dream tree: annually bearing, easy to grow, perfectly shaped. The dry white flesh is merely decent for both eating and cooking, so Ben Davis was often maligned. But it’s making a comeback as a cider apple. While most of the literature says it originated down south, historic town reports suggest it came from right here in Minot, ME. Keeps for months.