Golden Delicious

Originally known as Mullins’ Yellow seedling, Golden Delicious was renamed by Missouri apple breeders and distributors, the Stark brothers. Found in 1890, by Anderson Mullins in Clay County, West Virginia, this apple is possibly a seedling from a Grimes Golden tree. It began its rise to fame after Mullins sent fruit to Stark Brothers Nursery in Missouri in April of 1914, telling them of its excellent keeping qualities and heavy crops. Paul Stark was impressed enough to come and inspect the tree which he eventually bought for $5,000. He erected a cage around it to prevent anyone else taking grafts and paid $100 dollars a year for its maintenance. The tree survived until 1958, and was honored with photographs on centennial issue of Clay County bank checks. Golden Delicious keeps its shape when cooked and has a sweet, but very light flavor. It is wonderful both fresh and in salads.