Apples, Apples, Apples!
Did you know there are thousands of apple varieties? We have tried hundreds of them here at Gopher Glen and kept 65 of the top ones for our customers to enjoy. We also grow many other old-fashioned varieties such as Rhode Island Greening, Skinner, Missouri Pippins, three Limbertwigs and other uncommon varieties not mentioned on our list. Experimental trees with eight or ten varieties each, as well as thousands of seedling trees grown from our own crosses, are beginning to produce totally new and never before seen apple varieties. It is all great fun! You never know — on one of your visits you may find yourself being a guinea pig for one of our brand new varieties.
Current Fruit Availability
We have multiple harvests of each apple variety and may run out between harvests. Please call the fruit stand (805) 595-2646 before making the drive for a specific variety. Our apple availability often changes hour by hour!
9/19/2026
-Jelly Green Pears
-Bosc Pears
-Chocolate Persimmons
-Pomegranates
-Fresh Cut Lavender
-Cherry Tomatoes
-Beefsteak Tomatoes
-Edible Squash Varieties
-Decorative Pumpkins
Coming soon: Zucchini
APPLES
GALA: We still have plenty of crunchy and sweet Galas.
BENTONS: VERY crunchy and sweet apple with a touch of tart. These are popping in this year as a trial to see if customers like this early season apple. We are loving the firmness!
JONALICIOUS: Cross between the tart and firm Jonathan and the classic sweet and juicy Golden Delicious. A staff favorite! If we run out, there is more pickings to come!
JONAGOLD: Cross between a Jonathan (tart) and a Golden Delicious (sweet). Large, juicy and flavor is in charge! One of my favorites!
RED YORKING: Unique squatty shaped red apple. Nice white fleshed apple with a crunchy tart character. Great for baking or drying.
RED DELICIOUS: This is the dreaded classic red delicious, BUT ours are much more crisp and actually have flavor. They still have the classic Red Delicious shape and the purple red color.
CHIEFTAN: crisp and juicy apple with a rich, sweet and honeyed flavour. It is the offspring of Jonathan and Red Delicious, and was introduced in 1967.
EMPIRE: If you don't get hung up on the size of this little apple, it might become one of your favorites. Empire is almost purple in color with a bright white and light crunchy flesh.
Projected Apple Availability
(Actual harvest timing may vary by 2-3 weeks depending on the weather which drives harvest)
Late July/Early August
Gravenstein
Gala
Mid August
Burgundy
Laura red
Ida Red
Mollie’s Delicious
Late August
Tohoku
Empire
Gala
Mutsu
Elstar
Jonathan
Hawaii
Mollie’s Delicious
Early September
Jonathan
Jonadel
Hawaii
Bellflower
Jonagold
Redgold
Mid September
Golden Delicious
Chieftan
Braeburn
Nittany
Criterian
Mohawk
Jonalicious
Late September
Red Delicious
Northern Spy
Russet
Spitzenberg
Caville Blanc
Black Amish
Honey Crisp
Early October
Red Yorking
Turley Winesap
Limbertwig
Stayman Winesap
Fuji
Mid October
Rome Beauty
Heaven Sent
Little Gem
Splendor
Tydeman Red
Newtown Pippin
Late October
Pink Lady
Chesapeake
Granny Smith
Black Twig
Sun Crisp
November and December
Sundowner
Mary’s Unknown
Lady Williams
Arkansas Black