Knowledgebase
Golden Delicious? #815711
Asked November 01, 2022, 5:13 PM EDT
Linn County Oregon
Expert Response
Unfortunately it isn't possible for us to identify apple varieties. There are too many apple varieties out there, many of which are very similar, so there is no way to identify a variety for sure just based on appearance and ripening time. So, while I can say that your apple does resemble Golden Delicious, and the ripening time is about right for that variety, I can't say for sure that is the variety you have.
The only method to identify an apple variety for certain is to have it DNA tested; the only place in the country that offers that service is UC Davis, and it is quite expensive. https://fps.ucdavis.edu/dnamain.cfm
Here are some resources that may be helpful to you.
https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-can-i-identify-apple-tree-variety-my-backyard
and "Picking and Storing Apples and Pears" FS 147, which lists ripening times for apples in the PNW, https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/fs147/html