A delightfully pretty and scrumptious apple!  Crisp and crunchy, Empire has a memorable sweet-tart flavor.  Some people say it has taste hints of pineapple or melon.

In the grocery store, Empires are usually shiny and bright-red over a limey-green background with a creamy white flesh.  It is a superb all-purpose mid-size apple, and fits well in a lunch-box, briefcase or work bag.

Empires are excellent for eating out of hand and in salads, and are good for baking and applesauce.  They store well and are noted for being somewhat resistant to bruising.

A northern native, the Empire apple is a hybrid of the Red Delicious and McIntosh introduced in 1966 by plant breeders in New York, the Empire State.  Very popular with British consumers.