Zestar!® apple

Zestar! apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

USDA identification images for Zestar!

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.

Visitor reviews

• 14 Oct 2024 

  Extremely juicy apple, almost firm flesh, very a sweet with a slight hint of sour, thin skin. The only thing not making this apple absolutely perfect, is it seems to have a short window of perfect flavor. Too soon and it's not sweet enough, almost bland, too late and the flesh gets mealy and the sour is gone, but if you pick this firm off the tree and just wow. Phenomenal apple
• 25 Mar 2024 

  Located on the East side of the coast range of Benton Co. OR. We have over 35 different trees to choose from and this one is our favorite. Growing from a standard tree ordered from St. Lawerance Nursery in N.Y. Consistently great tasting good looking full-sized thin-skinned pommes. Fast-growing robust tree and no sign of health issues here. Highly recommended.
• 10 Sep 2018  NY, United States

  Tried my first ever Zestar! today and what a treat it was. The flavor was super sweet and with just a hint of tart mixed in. Flesh was more flavorful then I was expecting with this apple. I planted 5 of these this past spring on B9 and I'm really excited about trying one fresh off the tree in the next couple of years. Highly recommend this apple.
• 06 Nov 2016  CA / HUMBOLDT COUNTY, United States

  This is one of my favorite early apples I'm growing in my trial orchard in coastal NW California. Sweet and rich flavored with nice crunch and texture.
• 29 Aug 2016  ILLINOIS, United States

  Bought at Edward's Apple Orchard Northern Illinois. Excellent Taste with sharp sweet taste. Highly recommend.
• 09 Sep 2015  ONTARIO, Canada

  I first purchased zestars at a local farmers' market last year and loved them. This year's apples are even better. Lots of tartness with a touch of brown sugar and a good crunch. I eat alot of apples and this year's zestars are amongst my favourites.
• 02 Sep 2014  NEW JERSEY, United States

  Zestar is tart/sweet juicy. The crisp but not hard texture is just perfect. Purchased these in Delaware County NY 08/31/14. One of the first early apples available at the co-op. Wonderful.
• 21 Oct 2013  MN, United States

  Kurt - If you just bought it and ate it (close to the date of your review), the fruit was likely picked upwards of 6 weeks ago. The mealiness you experienced was probably a result of bad shipping or storage. A properly stored Zestar will never be mealy. Zestar doesn't have the highest flavor intensity, but it should have been tart with a good sweetness.
• 15 Oct 2013  MN, United States

  Wow from the comments I've been reading, Byerly's must have had them mislabeled. But, I don't think so. It was a pretty apple from the outside, one bite...it was mealy, lacked flavor...I wouldn't even think of cooking with them. I think the UofM needs to go back to the drawing board!
• 27 Sep 2013  MINNESOTA, United States

  I bet this apple will be great for use in baking were you want an apple that is crisp and tart, yet still has a sweetness to it. No hint of the brown sugar taste that was in the describtion, however reminds me of the candy "Sweet-Tarts".
• 11 Sep 2012  WI, United States

  Purchased these recently (9/6/12) , hadn't seen them before. These are EXCEPTIONAL! Sweet & tart, juicy, crisp...what more could one want in an apple?
• 08 Sep 2012  VA, United States

  I usually won't eat apples from the grocery store (preferring "real" apples from the fruit stand), but Zestar made the cut. It's tart and nearly as full-bodied in flavor as Winesap, but with a crispness that keeps my husband happy. Top notch!
• 03 Sep 2012  OREGON, United States

  Very fragrant, sweet-tangy, crisp, light apple with floral tones. I also did not detect brown sugar taste, but it did remind me of some kind of candy - not sure what kind!
• 27 Aug 2012  VERMONT, United States

  We just discovered this apple at our local orchard. We love the taste, sweet yet with some tartness. I am a diehard Cortland fan, but Zestar will definately be my early season apple.
• 30 Sep 2011  WI, United States

  This is one of the very best newer apples out there. Very crunchy and juicy, and much more smackingly tart than sweet, with just a very pleasant appley flavor. (I also do NOT detect any "brown sugar" flavor at all.) I would guess this should be a great apple for cooking and cider making as well as fresh eating -- very versatile! Can't wait to make some cider of this one!!
• 19 Sep 2011  WISCONSIN, United States

  "Zest" is the word. If you like an apple to open your eyes and slap your taste buds than this is the apple for you. It is crisp with sweetness to balance the zing. Keeps well for an early apple.
• 31 Aug 2011  MA, United States

  A very tasty apple, a very nice sweet-tart combo. Supposedly it tastes of brown sugar, but I do not detect that. It is crisp and the skin is delicious as well as the fruit. Will definetly buy it again.

Tree register

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• United States63
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Where to buy trees

The following tree nurseries offer Zestar! apple trees for sale:

• Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (USA) United States
  Zestar! apple trees

Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Zestar!:

United States

• Colorado

  • Ela Family Farms, Hotchkiss
  • Masonville Orchard, Fort Collins

• Connecticut

  • Karabin Farms, Southington

• Georgia

  • Freedom Farms - Apple & Peach Orchard, Chatsworth
  • Mercier Orchards, Blue Ridge

• Idaho

  • Kelley Orchards (Weiser), Weiser

• Illinois

  • Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch, Champaign
  • Meadowmoor Orchard, Woodstock
  • Royal Oak Farm and Fruit Orchard, Harvard        *** Feature Orchard ***

• Indiana

  • Apple Works, Trafalgar
  • G. W. Stroh Orchards, Angola
  • McClure's Orchard, Peru
  • Harker Family Farms & Orchard, Waldron

• Iowa

  • 3 Bee Farms, Griswold
  • Allen's Orchard, Marion
  • Applecart Orchard, Vinton
  • Community Orchards, Fort Dodge
  • Gravert's Apple Basket Orchard, Sabula
  • Storybook Orchard, Story City
  • The Big Apple Orchard, Mount Vernon
  • Wilson's Orchard, Iowa City

• Kansas

  • Meadowlark Farm, Rose Hill

• Maine

  • Circle B Farms, Caribou
  • Hooper's Orchard, Monroe
  • McDougal Orchards, Springvale
  • North Chester Orchard, Chester

• Michigan

  • Apple Valley Orchard, Saginaw
  • Brainerd Farms, Onsted
  • Husted Farm Market and Cider Mill, Kalamazoo
  • Jacques Orchard, Hemlock
  • KlineKrest USDA Certified Organic Produce Farm, Lyons
  • Markillie Orchard and Cider Mill, Howell
  • Rennhack Orchards, Hart
  • Robinette's Apple Haus and Winery, Grand Rapids

• Minnesota

  • Afton Apple Orchard, Hastings
  • Apple Jack Orchards, Delano
  • Apple Tree-O, Delano
  • Big Woods Orchard, Winona
  • Center Creek Orchard, Fairmont
  • Cider Flats Apple Orchard, Hinckley
  • Fireside Orchard and Gardens, Northfield
  • Fischer's Croix Farm Orchard, Hastings
  • Hidden Cove Orchard, Cold Spring
  • Irish Mountain Orchard, Elysian
  • J.Q. Fruit Farm, Princeton
  • Lee Peterson Tree Farm Apple Orchard, Becker
  • LuceLine Orchard, Watertown
  • Lucking's Cannon Valley Orchard, Cannon Falls
  • Maple Hills Orchard, Frazee
  • Maple Run Orchard, Finlayson
  • Minnesota Harvest, Jordan
  • Minnetonka Orchards, Minnetrista
  • Montgomery Orchards, Montgomery
  • Nelson's Apple Farm, Webster
  • Novak's Orchards, LLC, Woodbury
  • Nystrom Orchard, Worthington
  • Pleasant Valley Orchard, Taylors Falls
  • Red Barn Orchard, Pine River
  • Sekapp Orchard, Rochester
  • Southwind Orchards, Dakota
  • Straight River Farm, Faribault
  • Sweetland Orchard, Webster
  • Two Fruit's Fruits, Hinckley
  • Woods' Edge Apples, Buffalo

• Nebraska

  • Union Orchard, Union

• New Hampshire

  • Butternut Farm LLC, Farmington
  • Demeritt Hill Farm, Lee

• New Jersey

  • Alstede Farms, Chester

• New York

  • Albany Apple Guy:Purveyor of Rare & Exotic Apples, Castleton
  • Apple Ridge Orchards, Warwick
  • Bellinger's Apple Orchard, Fultonville
  • Indian Ladder Farms Inc., Altamont
  • LoveApple Farms, Ghent
  • Northern Orchard Co Inc., Peru
  • Whittier Fruit Farm, Rochester

• Ohio

  • Eshleman Fruit Farm, Clyde
  • Johnston Fruit Farms, Swanton
  • Ochs Fruit Farm, Lancaster
  • Reaver Farms Orchard, South Charleston
  • The Orchard & Company, Plain City
  • Tüken's Farm Market and Orchard, West Alexandria
  • Votaw Farms, Pioneer

• Oregon

  • Haury Farms, Salem

• Pennsylvania

  • Godfrey Run Farm, LLC, Lake City
  • Kauffman's Fruit Farm, Bird-in-Hand
  • Masonic Village Farm Market, Elizabethtown
  • Paulus Orchards, Dillsburg

• South Dakota

  • Hoversten Orchards LTD, Brandon
  • Krause Family Orchard & Nursery Inc., Glenham

• Vermont

  • Outback Orchard, Florence

• Washington

  • Skipley Farm, Snohomish        *** Feature Orchard ***
  • Tonnemaker Hill Farm, Royal City

• Wisconsin

  • Birch Creek Apple & Honey, Holcombe
  • Cattleana Ranch, Poygan Township/Omro
  • Ecker's Apple Farm, Trempealeau
  • Ferguson's Orchard, Eau Claire
  • Hillside Apples, Casco
  • Maple Ridge Orchard, Cashton
  • Orchard Store at Old Homestead, Franksville
  • Peck & Bushel Fruit Company, Town of Erin/City of Colgate
  • Pleasant View Orchard, Niagara
  • Rim's Edge Orchard, Germantown
  • Rush River Orchard and Bakery, Ellsworth
  • Sacia Orchards, Galesville        *** Feature Orchard ***
  • Sutter's Ridge Orchard, Mt Horeb

Canada

• British Columbia

  • Dragonfly Farm, Salt Spring Island

• Ontario

  • DeVries Fruit Farm, Fenwick