Centennial Crabapple

Centennial was part of the University of Minnesota breeding program; it's a cross of Dolgo crab and the famous (much larger)Wealthy. It was introduced in 1957 and was named by the University in honor of Minnesota's statehood (May 11, 1858) when Land of 10,000 lakes became the thirty-second member of the union.

The fruit is oval-shaped, somewhat like a large olive, about 2" tall and slightly less wide. The apple is usually bright-red-blushed; sometimes the blush entirely covers the fruit. It ripens in late August in central Maine.

At a glance Centennial does not look like an apple you'd want to bite into, but don't be fooled by its diminutive size. Centennial is an extremely tasty fresh-eating apple that evokes all the smells of a warm breeze on a tropical island. One bite will drive you mad as you try to decide which starburst flavor it reminds you of. Mango? No. Pineapple? Maybe. Tangerine? Yes, that’s it. Laced with a hint of lemon and peach and a touch of vanilla, the sweetness of this well balanced fruit offsets the slight bitterness of the skin. The aftertaste leaves you feeling sticky. You’ll understand what we mean when you bite into a ripe one. Centennial would probably make decent sauce but why bother? You can eat them like candies.