Ben Davis (apple) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Malus domestica Ben Davis |
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| Cultivar | Ben Davis |
| Origin | unknown, USA, approx. 1800 |
The Ben Davis is a type of apple. It was once very popular in the United States. This apple was first sold by the Stark Brothers Nursery. They even called it the "Black Ben Davis."
History of the Ben Davis Apple
During the 1800s and early 1900s, the Ben Davis apple was a favorite for selling. It was tough and stayed fresh for a long time. This made it easy to transport and store.
Farmers liked this apple because it was a reliable producer. The fruit would stay on the trees very late in the season. Because it was so dependable, growers sometimes called it a "mortgage lifter." This meant it helped them earn enough money to pay their farm loans.
As new ways of packing and shipping apples improved, other apples became more popular. These newer apples often tasted better. By the mid-1900s, the Ben Davis apple was mostly used for cooking or processing. It was not often eaten fresh. Farmers started growing other apple types instead.
Today, the Ben Davis apple is quite rare. You won't often find it in stores. However, some people still grow it in places like California, Maine, and Pennsylvania.
Apples Related to Ben Davis
The Ben Davis apple was used to create a new apple called the Cortland. This happened by crossbreeding it with the 'McIntosh' apple. Crossbreeding means combining two different types of plants to make a new one. The Cortland apple is now a very popular apple for making pies.
Other similar apples, like the Gano or Black Ben Davis, appeared in the southern United States around the 1880s. These might be new versions of the original Ben Davis apple. However, no one knows for sure how they are related.
