A joint breeding program between Indiana, Illinois, and New Jersey Agricultural research stations developed the Gold Rush apple in the 1990s and introduced it to the market in 1994.
The name “Gold Rush” refers to the golden color and the “rush” of rich, spicy flavor. In addition to their golden color and rush of spicy flavor, they also have a sweet-tart taste.
The Gold Rush apple is derived from Golden Delicious as the seed parent, with crosses from several other varieties including Winesap, Melrose, and Rome Beauty.
The mildly sweet flavor and crispness of the Gold Rush’s flesh make this apple good for fresh eating and cooking, as well as juice and cider.
The Gold Rush does not brown as quickly when exposed to air as some apples, so they are an excellent choice for fruit salads
A properly stored Gold Rush apple will keep its crisp, firm texture and complex flavor for at least seven months.