One of Ontario’s historic apples, Baxter is fairly rare these days but boasts many desirable features for an apple. The firm, aromatic and juicy apple is enjoyed eaten fresh and in baking. It ripens late in the growing season and develops a bluish bloom on the surface of its skin, like its much more famous relative, the Blue Pearmain. The fruit develops a beautiful purple tone near harvest as a result of its dark red blush and the blue bloom. Baxter fruit are quite large and have a thicker skin that resistant to scab. They grow well in cold climates and, as a hardy cultivar, produce vigorous upright growth. Resistance: Scab resistant Parentage: Unknown, thought to be related to Blue Pearmain. There was some contention in the late 1800s around who ought to be given credit for this fruit and what to call it. Lovers of historical squabbles should refer to this Pomiferous article for more details. Baxter goes by the additional names Baxter’s Red, Larue, Red Pound, and Simcoe. Image credit: USDA. Reference:Bard College AppleDB - BaxterCity of Mississauga - The OrchardThe Apples of New York (page 65-66)
