Good multi-use apple. Medium to large red fruit on almost invisible yellow skin. Crisp, juicy, sweet, good-tasting flesh. Subacid, sprightly flavor.
Freedom apple identification images
All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.
USDA identification images for Freedom
The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.
Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Parents and other ancestors of this variety
Visitor reviews
- 11 Feb 2014 NEW YORK, United StatesI've had a Freedom tree for about 10 years. It is a prolific, reliable and steady producer with fairly large apples. While the tree is disease resistent and the apples are tastey, they have a very limited shelf life. They are great fresh, but begin to get soft and somewhat mealy in texture quickly. They also seem to develop soft spots and rot quickly. I make I make a lot of cider and they aren't great for juice. I'm actually considering replacing it this year with Honeycrisp or Fuji. I also have Empire, Liberty, MacFree and Granny Smith.
- 05 Nov 2013 NORTH CAROLINA, United StatesI planted a Freedom apple tree I bought at a co-op sale in Spring 2009. It bloomed very slightly in 2011 but set no apples. All the blooms were killed by a late freeze in 2012. This year (2013) it had a moderate bloom and I was able to harvest about 3/4 of a bushel of apples from it. I was pleased at the very good fresh eating flavor and it also made good applesauce which cooked up very quickly. Given the diease resitance of this variety, it is a good choice for the home gardener.
- 07 Oct 2013 NY, United StatesWe've had a Freedom apple for more than 28 years now. It's a great apple for eating fresh and makes okay applesauce. Good in cakes. Not tart enough for me in pies. My favorite use of this apple is dried. They dry quite well and the dried apples are excellent in oatmeal or eaten out of hand as a snack.
- 20 Sep 2013 IOWA, United StatesMy dad has a Freedom tree. The apples don't have bad flavor, and they taste somewhat similar to a McIntosh. The fruit is yellow with red stripes. They seem to ripen in early-mid September, and they don't keep much more than a week off the tree. They do make good pies and cider. Probably the most redeeming characteristic of the tree is that the fruit is pretty much 100% resistant to scab and somewhat resistant to cedar apple rust. Organic growers might like Freedom.
Tree register
United States
- Andrew Plumer in Ashfield, MA
- Axel Kratel in Santa Cruz, CALIFORNIA
- Beth Matney in Bauxite, ARKANSAS
- Cherie Buijk in HILLSBORO, MO
- Chris Mastrangelo in Smithttown, NEW YORK
- Craig Sheehan in Winchester, KY
- Craig Williams in Manning, IOWA
- Dan Spratlen in Camano Island, WASHINGTON / USA
- Darren Peters in Rock Spring, GEORGIA
- fendwick in Bemidji, MN
- Florian Deisenhofer in Brush Prairie, CLARK COUNTY WA
- James Nichols in La Luz, NEW MEXICO
- Jeff Hansen in Letcher, SD
- Jeff Will in Elko, MN / SCOTT
- Joel Howie in Canton, NEW YORK
- Karl Schmidt in Estelline, SD
- Khashline@Gmail.Com in Rouses Point, NEW YORK
- Mark Campbell in Centerville, INDIANA
- Mark Douglass in Minneapolis, MN
- Matt in Emmett, MI
- Nathan Parker in Mount Shasta, CA
- Nick LeClair in Waterford, MAINE
- Paul Gerrish in Newbury, MA
- Peter in Johnson City, TN
- Roy Nichols in LA LUZ, NEW MEXICO
- Ryan in Cumming, GA
- Ryan in STERLING, NY
Canada
- James Noel in GRAND BEND, ON
- Roger Macpherson in Delta, B.C.
- Rylan in COURTICE, ONTARIO
- v k Howald in Lucknow, ONTARIO
- Will in Severn, ONTARIO
Poland
- Richard in Krakow,
Spring blossom records for this variety
2017 season
- 6th June 2017 - tree owned by fendwick in Bemidji, United States
- 23rd May 2017 - tree owned by Khashline@Gmail.Com in Rouses Point, United States
2013 season
- 18th May 2013 - tree owned by Jeff in Elko, United States
2012 season
- 8th May 2012 - tree owned by Florian in Brush Prairie, United States
- 26th March 2012 - tree owned by Ryan in Cumming, United States
2011 season
- May 2011 - tree owned by Dan in Camano Island, United States
- May 2011 - tree owned by v in Lucknow, Canada
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Harvest records for this variety
2023 season
- 1st week October 2023 - tree owned by Will in Severn, Canada
2017 season
- 1st week October 2017 - tree owned by Khashline@Gmail.Com in Rouses Point, United States
2013 season
- 3rd week October 2013 - tree owned by Craig in Manning, United States
2011 season
- 4th week September 2011 - tree owned by v in Lucknow, Canada
Origins
- Species: Malus domestica - Apple
- Parentage: Macoun x Antonovka
- Originates from: United States
- Introduced: 1958
- Developed by: New York State Agricultural Experiment Station
- UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1984-148
Identification
- Country of origin: United States
- Period of origin: 1950 - 1999
- Fruit colour: Red striped
- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Annual cycle: Deciduous
Using
- Picking season: Late
- Keeping (of fruit): 1-2 months
- Flavour quality: Good
- Cropping: Heavy
- Food uses: Eating fresh
- Food uses: Culinary
- Picking period: early October
- Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators
Growing
- Gardening skill: Beginner
- Flowering group: 3
- Pollinating others: Average
- Ploidy: Diploid
- Vigour: Slightly large
- Precocity: Precocious
- Bearing regularity: Regular
- Growth habit: Spreading / Flat-topped
- Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
- Organic culture: Suitable
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
Climate
- Climate suitability: Temperate climates
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
Other qualities
- Disease resistance: Good
- Scab (Apple and Pear): Very resistant
- Powdery mildew: Some resistance
- Fire blight: Some resistance
- Cedar apple rust: Some resistance
Where to buy trees
The following tree nurseries offer Freedom apple trees for sale:
- Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (USA) United States
Freedom apple trees
Where to buy fresh fruit
The following orchards grow Freedom:
United States
Arizona
- Beatty's Orchard, Hereford
Arkansas
- Cox Berry Farm & Nursery, Clarksville
Connecticut
- Staehly Farms, East Haddam
Georgia
- Freedom Farms - Apple & Peach Orchard, Chatsworth
Indiana
- Harker Family Farms & Orchard, Waldron
Iowa
- Wills Family Orchard, Adel
- Wilson's Orchard, Iowa City
Massachusetts
- Brook Farm Orchard, Ashfield
- Old Frog Pond Farm, Harvard
Michigan
- Alber's Orchard & Cider Mill, Manchester
- KlineKrest USDA Certified Organic Produce Farm, Lyons
Missouri
- Blue Heron Orchard, Canton
New Hampshire
- Apple Annie, Brentwood
New Jersey
- Riamede Farm, Chester
- Terhune Orchards, Princeton
New York
- G and S Orchards, Macedon
Pennsylvania
- Meadowhawk Farm, Millerstown
- Northrop's Apple Acres, Lake City
- Simmons Farm, McMurray
- Townsend Brother's Fruit Farm, Spring Church
Vermont
- Seven Saplings Farm, Richford
Canada
British Columbia
- Fruit Forest Certified Organic Farm, Cobble Hill
- Salt Spring Apple Company, Salt Spring Island