Lucy™Glo Apples
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
This item was last sold on : 01/19/25
Description/Taste
Lucy™Glo apples are a medium to large varietal, averaging 7 to 10 centimeters in diameter, and have a round to conical shape with flat shoulders, a broad, curved middle, and a tapered, narrow base. The apple's skin is smooth, slightly bumpy, taut, and thin, showcasing a golden yellow hue, sometimes with pale green undertones. The surface also exhibits prominent pale lenticels and patches of red blush created from sun exposure during cultivation. A unique characteristic of Lucy™Glo apples is the ability to see shades of the pigmented flesh through the thin skin, creating a multi-colored, variegated appearance. The flesh is marbled with red, pink, and white hues and has an aqueous, semi-granular, and crisp, snap-like consistency. Each Lucy™Glo apple will have a unique flesh pattern and coloring, and the apples contain a moderately-sized central core filled with tiny, black-brown seeds. Lucy™Glo apples have an initially tart flavor balanced with a sweet, tangy finish.
Seasons/Availability
Lucy™Glo apples are available in the fall.
Current Facts
Lucy™Glo apples, botanically classified as Malus domestica, are a specialty hybrid variety belonging to the Rosaceae family. The golden apples were released in the fall of 2018 and are a part of a trademarked line of red-fleshed fruits known as Lucy™ apples, grown in Washington and marketed through Chelan Fresh. Lucy™Glo apples are generally harvested in October and are a modern apple variety developed for improved appearance and flavor. Lucy™Glo apples were created through natural breeding techniques to have a tart and sweet flavor mixed with a light and crisp mouthfeel. The variety is relatively new but is rapidly increasing in popularity as consumers are being introduced to its colorful nature. Lucy™Glo apples are sold as a dual-purpose variety, consumed as a fresh eating or cooking apple.
Nutritional Value
Lucy™Glo apples are a source of fiber to regulate the digestive tract, vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning, and vitamin C to strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation. The apples also provide potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, iron to develop the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, and other nutrients, including calcium, manganese, zinc, copper, B vitamins, magnesium, and vitamin E. The apple's red flesh contains anthocyanins, colored pigments that have antioxidant-like properties to protect the cells against the damage caused by free radicals.
Applications
Lucy™Glo apples have a sweet-tart taste suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The apples can be consumed straight out of hand, showcasing the unique marbled flesh coloring, sliced and displayed on charcuterie boards, or chopped into salads for added crunch. Lucy™Glo apples can also be served as a tangy snack, dipped in caramel, chocolate, or nut butter, sliced and topped over toast, layered into sandwiches, used as a fresh garnish over pancakes and waffles, or shredded into slaws. Try thinly slicing the apples and using them as a chip replacement in a variation of nachos. In addition to fresh preparations, Lucy™Glo apples hold their shape well and can be utilized in baked preparations to add vibrant coloring. The apples can be sliced and layered into tarts, pies, and galettes or topped over frosted cakes, cornbread, and other pastries. Lucy™Glo apples can also be simmered into applesauce, cooked into jellies and jams, or pureed into sauces for roasted meats. The variety's sweet taste complements savory or sweet dishes. Lightly saute the apples, sprinkle with brown sugar or cinnamon, and add to porridge or overnight oats. The apples can also be added to stuffings, casseroles, or grain bowls. Beyond culinary dishes, Lucy™Glo apples can be pressed into juice, stirred into cocktails, or pieces of the fruit can be dropped into sparkling beverages, lemonade, and fruit punches as a festive garnish. Lucy™Glo apples pair well with cheeses such as blue, goat, or parmesan, fruits including citrus, blackberries, pears, pomegranates, and apricots, nuts such as walnuts, almonds, pecans, and hazelnuts, and spices including cinnamon, cloves, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg. Unwashed Lucy™Glo apples will keep for 1 to 3 months when stored in a cool, dry, and dark place such as the refrigerator or storage cellar.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Lucy™Glo apples were named for their golden yellow skin. The skin is so thin that the dark red-pink, pigmented flesh can be seen through the skin, allowing Lucy™Glo apples to shine from the inside out. Consumers often comment that the apples have a glowing appearance, and the faint, rosy flesh coloring creates a subtle marbling effect. Lucy™ Glo apples are exclusively marketed through Chelan Fresh, a company based in Washington. Chelan Fresh promotes family-owned and operated farms throughout Washington, and many of these farms have been multi-generational, growing apples for over 100 years. Under the Chelan Fresh name, varieties of apples, cherries, and pears are marketed to grocers across the United States, and Lucy™ apples is a line currently comprised of Lucy™Glo apples and Lucy™Rose apples. Lucy™ apples were introduced to industry professionals at the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit Expo in October 2018 and were one of the most popular new items featured at the convention.
Geography/History
Lucy™Glo apples were developed by Bill Howell in Prosser, Washington, a town approximately two hours south of Wenatchee, Washington's famous apple-growing region. Howell was a plant pathologist, but he was most notably known for spending years crossing red-fleshed apple varieties with other cultivars to create a red-fleshed apple variety with improved flavor. Historically, varieties of red-fleshed apples have been around in specialty orchards for centuries, but the saturated apples were traditionally flavorless or contained sour and astringent notes. In the 1990s, Howell planted Airlie trees, a red-fleshed apple, and several Honeycrisp apple trees, allowing the trees to pollinate freely with one another. This open pollination created several new types of apples, and Howell selected his favorite apples from the cross, planting the first generation of improved red-fleshed apple seeds in 1996. Howell studied the trees for over 13 years before he selected two prominent apples as new varieties, eventually naming them Howell TC2 and Howell TC3. In 2018, Howell partnered with Chelan Fresh, a marketing company that worked with him to trademark and rename the varieties to Lucy™Glo apples and Lucy™Rose apples. The Lucy™ apple brand was established and introduced to the produce industry in the fall of 2018. Today Lucy™Glo apples are cultivated in Central Washington through select growers in partnership with Chelan Fresh. The variety is a seasonal specialty apple favored for its appearance and taste, and the fruits are grown in limited quantities for sale in markets across the United States. Lucy™Glo apples are also produced and sold in Europe through select partnerships.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Lucy™Glo Apples. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Chelan Fresh |
|
Apple Donut Muffins |
| Chelan Fresh |
|
Lucyâ„¢ Glo and Lucyâ„¢ Rose Apple Galette |
| The Fresh Market |
|
Lucy Rose Apple and Goat Cheese Frosted Cake |
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