Matt Kaminsky, aka Gnarly Pippins, is an adept forager who has discovered numerous untamed apple varieties with superior qualities across the Northeast. Many of these finds have been grafted ex situ with promising results for cider orchards. Old Fertile is one of the best. A complex sweet apple with what Matt calls “super duper flavor. Honey sweet with a bit of vanilla or honeysuckle.” Makes good sweet cider (Brix 18–20) sometimes with a bittersweet lean. Low acid. Round to round-oblate fruit is intense yellow with a russeted stem cavity. The original tree produces small-to-medium apples, but grafted specimens show increased fruit size. Stores well.

Strong low-maintenance trees with no disease pressure observed. Blooms midseason. Z4. Maine Grown. (Semi-dwarf: 2½-5' bare-root trees)