Fuji (apple)


The Fuji apple is an apple cultivar developed by growers at Tohoku Research Station in Fujisaki, Aomori, Japan, in the late 1930s, and brought to market in 1962. It originated as a cross between two American apple varieties—the Red Delicious and old Virginia Ralls Genet apples. According to the US Apple Association website it is one of the fifteen most popular apple cultivars in the United States. Its name is derived from the first part of the town where it was developed: Fujisaki.

Overview

Fuji apples are typically round and range from large to very large, averaging 75 mm in diameter. They contain between 9–11% sugars by weight and have a dense flesh that is sweeter and crisper than many other apple cultivars, making them popular with consumers around the world. Fuji apples also have a very long shelf life compared to other apples, even without refrigeration. With refrigeration, Fuji apples can remain fresh for up to a year.
In Japan, Fuji apples continue to be an unrivaled best-seller. Japanese consumers prefer the crispy texture and sweetness of Fuji apples almost to the exclusion of other varieties and Japan's apple imports remain low. Aomori Prefecture, home to the Fuji apple, is the best known apple growing region of Japan. Of the roughly 900,000 tons of Japanese apples produced annually, 500,000 tons come from Aomori.
Outside Japan, the popularity of Fuji apples continues to grow. In 2016 and 2017, Fuji apples accounted for nearly 70% of China's 43 million tons grown. Since their introduction into the U.S. market in the 1980s, Fuji apples have gained popularity with American consumers — as of 2016, Fuji apples ranked number 3 on the US Apple Association's list of most popular apples, only trailing Red Delicious and Gala. Fuji apples are grown in traditional apple-growing states such as Washington, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and California. Washington State, where more than half of America's apple crop is grown, produces about 135,000 tons of Fuji apples each year, third in volume behind Red Delicious and Gala varieties.
Fuji apples have recently been projected by the US Apple Association to be in 4th place as America's favorite apple.

Mutant cultivars

Many sports of the Fuji apple have been recognized and propagated. In addition to those that have remained unpatented, twenty had received US plant patents by August 2008:
Date"Inventor"Marketed asMutated fromAssigneeHabitPatternEarlierColorPlant patent number
Aug 29, 1989HiraragiYatakaFujiMakoto Okadastandardstripe1 Month–
Oct 6, 1992YahagiHeisei Fuji, Beni Shogun9645Yataka7001Nakajima Tenkoenstandardsolidnodark red
Nov 17, 1992CooperT.A.C.#114Redsport Type 2T.A.C.spurstripe10–14 daysmore brilliant red, 80—90%
Sep 26, 1995FukudaTenseiFujiFukushima Tenkoenstandard, largerstripenosame
Apr 16, 1996LyndFuji-SpikeFujiLyndspurstripe0–5 dayssame
Sep 24, 1996Van LeuvenMyraunknown red strainC & Ostandardblush w/ subtle stripe1 weekbright pink
Dec 9, 1997AuvilFuji 216T.A.C.#1148032Auvilstandardblush5–21 daysbrighter red, 90—100%
Mar 24, 1998Coopr & PerkinsFuji Compact T.A.C. #114T.A.C.#1148032T.A.C.spursamesamesame
Jan 25, 2000Van LeuvenFieroYataka7001C & Ostandardindistinct stripe7–10 daysmore intense blush
Sep 18, 2001SnyderSnyderBC 2Snydersemi-spurheavy stripesamesame
Nov 27, 2001TorresTriple EBC 2–standard85—100% blush10–14 dayssolid red
Apr 16, 2002RankinRankin RedYakata7001Twin Springs Fruit Farmstandard70—90% blush5 daysmore intense
Nov. 11, 2003TeagueIreneBC 2–standardsolid60 daysyellow
Oct 26, 2004BraunBrakFujiKikustandardstripedearlierruby red
Feb 21, 2006ClevengerFugacheeFuji–standard70—90% blush14 days before Fiero–
Jun 6, 2006BanningBanning RedDesert Rose FujiBanningstandardstripe–redder
Aug 14, 2007Lee, Edwards, DelugarCABpNagafu 6CABp 4standardstripe–"superior"
Sep 11, 2007EppichEppich 2T.A.C. #1148032–standardblush with light stripeunclearyellow and red
Apr 29, 2008BraunFuji FubraxFujiKiku SRLstandarddark ruby red stripes and blushlategreen-yellow
Jul 29, 2008Leis, MazzolaFujikoNagafu 12Consorzio Italiano Vivaististandarddiffused–more intense red

Unpatented Fuji mutants include: