Rusty Coat

Rusty Coat stands out in our orchards for its strong resistance to pests and diseases. This caught the attention of Blue Roof Orchard in Wisconsin, who was searching for a disease-resistant alternative to Golden Russet and grafted Rusty Coat last year to trial in their orchard. Rusty Coat produces medium sized, round fruit that has a pleasant, pear-like flavor. This is a bit of a mystery apple in our collection. It came to us from a collector in Virginia, but its provenance and history has proven elusive. DNA testing came back as "unique," meaning it didn't match any known variety that has been tested in the past. However, we've opted to offer it due to its potential for low or no-spray backyard orchards.