Orleans Antique Apple Tree

Orleans is an apple with beauty that goes far deeper than its striking appearance — a Cornell University antique variety developed in Geneva, New York around 1924 as a Delicious × Deacon Jones cross that produces medium-large fruit shaped like Red Delicious but larger, with fine, crisp, sweet flesh and a flavor profile that makes some of the finest cider you’ll ever taste. Cold hardy, a strong keeper in proper storage, and ripening in late September — a genuinely exceptional antique variety for both the orchard and the press.

Exceptional Cider Quality — The Apple Cider Maker’s Choice

Orleans earns special attention among cider enthusiasts for its outstanding fermentation quality. The sweet, complex flavor and fine-textured, crisp flesh translate into cider with genuine character and depth — the kind of single-variety or blended hard cider that makes homegrown apple pressing so rewarding. Whether for fresh juice or hard cider, Orleans delivers flavor that clearly distinguishes homegrown from commercial.

Larger Than Red Delicious — Better in Every Way

Orleans inherited the distinctive elongated shape of its Red Delicious parent but improved on it substantially — larger, with better-textured, more complex-flavored flesh. Where Red Delicious became infamous for thick skin and mealy texture in commercial production, Orleans delivers genuinely fine, crisp, sweet flesh that’s outstanding for fresh eating as well as pressing. The classic shape and deep red coloring make it visually beautiful; the flavor makes it worth growing.

Antique Variety, Geneva, New York — Cornell, Circa 1924

Orleans comes from the same Cornell breeding program in Geneva, New York that produced Cortland, Empire, Macoun, and other beloved American apple varieties. Dating to around 1924, it carries the depth of history and proven performance that only a century-old variety can offer — and the institutional breeding rigor that has kept Geneva varieties consistently among the finest available.

Why Growers Choose Orleans

• Outstanding cider quality — one of the finest pressing apples for fresh juice and hard cider
• Larger than Red Delicious with better flavor — the shape without the commercial compromises
• Fine, crisp, sweet flesh — genuinely excellent for fresh eating too
• Cornell University licensed variety — Geneva, New York, circa 1924
• Strong keeper — stores well in proper conditions after harvest
• Cold hardy in Zones 4–8 — reliable antique variety for a wide range of climates