Originating in Indiana in the 1870s and named for the color, banana flavor and the ridges running up the sides that resemble those on a banana, these very large fruit are pale yellow with a faint pink blush. White flesh is mild, with a sweet tropical perfume and some say, banana flavor. It is best enjoyed as a dessert apple. A particularly juicy apple, used for sweet and hard cider. Ripens late October to early November at 4500' -- moderately long keeper. Very orderly growth habit, requires little pruning. It is a genetically stable, diploid variety, which means it has two sets of chromosomes that create very fertile pollen to pollinates itself as well as other apple trees. Moderate disease resistance. A beloved favorite to the homestead gardener.

The grandmother tree is located in Forest City, Sierra County, CA. Forest was a very productive gold mining camp beginning in 1852. Thousands flocked to this vibrant town, today a national historic monument. Forest is full of antique pears, apples and cherries that we will be introducing over the next several years. Apples are particularly productive and long-lived at this 4500’ site. The annual mid October Forest Apple Festival brings out the locals for a day of reminiscing, apple juicing and apple desert contests.