Iowa State Fruit: The Hawkeye State That Gave the World the Red Delicious Apple
Iowa State Fruit: The Hawkeye State That Gave the World the Red Delicious Apple
Iowa doesn't have an official state fruit. That might surprise you, considering this is the state that gave the world the Red Delicious apple, one of the most widely grown and recognized apple varieties on the planet. The Hawkeye State has a state bird (Eastern Goldfinch), a state flower (Wild Rose), a state tree (Oak), and even a state rock (Geode), but no fruit has ever been formally designated by the Iowa legislature.
What Iowa does have is one of the most fascinating fruit origin stories in American history. A stubborn seedling in a Madison County orchard, a farmer who tried to chop it down twice, and a fruit so good it was literally named "Delicious" on first bite. If any state has earned the right to claim a fruit, it's Iowa.
The Red Delicious Apple Was Born in Iowa
The story of the Red Delicious apple begins in the 1870s on a small farm near Peru, Iowa, in Madison County. Jesse Hiatt, a Quaker farmer who had moved to Iowa in 1856, was tending his orchard when he noticed a rogue seedling growing between his carefully planted rows. Hiatt chopped it down because it was out of place. The tree grew back. He cut it down again. It grew back a second time.
According to local legend, Hiatt finally relented and said, "If thee must grow, thee may." He let the stubborn little tree reach maturity, and after about ten years, it bore fruit. The apples were unlike anything Hiatt had seen before, red and yellow streaked with an unusual oblong shape and five distinctive bumps on the bottom. More importantly, they tasted extraordinary.
Hiatt named his new apple variety the "Hawkeye" in honor of his adopted state. He entered it in a fruit contest held by Stark Brothers Nursery in Louisiana, Missouri. When Clarence Stark tasted the apple, he reportedly exclaimed "Delicious! That's the name for it!" Stark Nurseries bought the rights from Hiatt, renamed the fruit "Stark Delicious," and began propagating it across the country. Within 60 years, they had sold more than 10 million descendant trees worldwide.
In 1914, after Stark Nurseries discovered another exceptional apple variety in West Virginia (which became the Golden Delicious), the original was retroactively renamed the "Red Delicious" to distinguish the two. That Iowa-born apple went on to become the most popular apple variety in the world for decades.
Iowa's Golden Age of Apple Growing
The Red Delicious wasn't just a lucky accident. Iowa was once a major player in American apple production. At the turn of the 20th century, apple growing was one of the state's most important agricultural industries. In 1911, Iowa produced 9.5 million bushels of apples, making it one of the top apple-producing states in the nation, second only to Michigan.
Orchards blanketed the rolling hills of southern and central Iowa, where the climate provided the cold winters and warm summers that apple trees need to produce their best fruit. The rich prairie soils and adequate rainfall created nearly ideal growing conditions, and Iowa farmers took advantage of every acre.
Then came the Armistice Day Blizzard of 1940, one of the most devastating weather events in Iowa's agricultural history. The sudden, ferocious ice storm in November leveled orchards across the state, destroying trees that had been producing fruit for generations. With replanting costs high and World War II on the horizon, most orchard land was converted to corn and soybean fields. Iowa's apple industry never fully recovered.
Today, there are still more than 140 apple orchards scattered across Iowa, but the scale is a fraction of what it once was. The state's apple heritage lives on through u-pick operations, cider presses, and a handful of commercial orchards that keep the tradition alive.
Where to Find Fresh Apples in Iowa
Despite the decline of commercial apple production, Iowa still has a thriving local apple scene. The state's orchards grow dozens of varieties suited to the Midwest climate, including Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Jonathan, and of course, descendants of the original Red Delicious.
Some of the most popular apple-picking destinations in Iowa include Wilson's Orchard in Iowa City, Center Grove Orchard in Cambridge, Deal's Orchard in Jefferson, and Iowa Orchard in Granger. Many of these farms offer u-pick experiences during the fall harvest season, along with fresh cider, apple butter, and homemade pies.
The apple harvest in Iowa typically runs from late August through October, with different varieties ripening at different times. Early varieties like Lodi and Pristine are ready in August, while late-season apples like Fuji and Granny Smith hang on into October. It's the kind of extended season that makes multiple orchard visits worthwhile.
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Iowa's Strawberry Heritage
While apples may be Iowa's most historically significant fruit, strawberries hold a special place in the state's agricultural identity. Strawberry season in Iowa runs from late May through June, and the arrival of fresh berries is one of the first signs that summer has truly arrived in the Hawkeye State.
Iowa's strawberry farming tradition owes a great deal to pioneers like Dean and Judy Henry of Berry Patch Farm near Nevada, Iowa. Over 50 years ago, the Henrys were among the first growers in central Iowa to raise strawberries for local markets, introducing the concept of u-pick berry farms to the region. Their 140-acre pick-your-own operation became a staple for generations of Iowa families.
Today, u-pick strawberry farms dot the Iowa landscape. Popular spots include Iowa Orchard in Granger, The Berry Basket Farm in Iowa City, Stewart Family Farm in Maxwell, and Upstream Gardens in Altoona. The season is short, typically lasting only about four weeks, which makes fresh Iowa strawberries all the more precious when they're available.
Recommended strawberry varieties for Iowa gardens include Honeoye, Jewel, Kent, Cavendish, and Winona, all selected for their ability to thrive in the state's climate and soil conditions.
Native and Wild Fruits of Iowa
Beyond cultivated orchards and berry patches, Iowa is home to a surprising variety of native and wild fruits. The state's woodlands, prairies, and river valleys support wild grape vines, elderberries, mulberries, serviceberries, pawpaws, and wild plums, among others.
Wild grapes are particularly abundant in Iowa. The native river grape (Vitis riparia) grows throughout the state's woodlands and forms the genetic backbone of Iowa's growing wine industry. More than 40 different grape varieties are cultivated in Iowa vineyards today, including cold-hardy varieties like Brianna, La Crescent, Frontenac, and Marquette that were specifically bred to withstand Iowa's harsh winters.
Aronia berries, also known as black chokeberries, are another native fruit gaining popularity in Iowa. These small, dark berries are packed with antioxidants and have become a niche crop for health-conscious consumers. Southeast Iowa, with its diverse mix of soil types and microclimates, supports one of the largest varieties of native fruit and nut trees outside the tropics.
Iowa's Wine Industry and Grape Growing
Iowa's relationship with fruit extends well beyond the table. The state's wine industry has experienced a remarkable revival in recent decades, built largely on cold-hardy grape varieties developed through Midwest breeding programs. Iowa is now home to more than 100 wineries and vineyards, producing everything from dry reds and crisp whites to fruit wines made with local berries.
The key to Iowa's wine success has been the development of grape varieties that can survive temperatures well below zero. Varieties like Frontenac, La Crescent, and Marquette, developed through the University of Minnesota's breeding program, have opened up commercial wine production in states that were previously considered too cold for viticulture.
Many Iowa wineries also produce fruit wines using locally grown strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and rhubarb. These fruit wines have become popular with visitors and provide another market for Iowa's diverse fruit growers.
The Nutritional Power of Iowa-Grown Fruits
Iowa's diverse fruit offerings pack a serious nutritional punch. Apples, the state's most iconic fruit, are rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, and polyphenol antioxidants. One medium apple provides about 4 grams of fiber and 14 percent of your daily vitamin C needs, all for roughly 95 calories.
Strawberries are even more impressive on the vitamin C front, delivering more than 100 percent of daily needs in a single cup. They're also an excellent source of manganese, folate, and potassium. Iowa-grown aronia berries top the charts for antioxidant content, with some studies showing they contain more anthocyanins per serving than blueberries, cranberries, or pomegranates.
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Why Iowa Deserves a State Fruit
Iowa is one of the few states in the country without an official state fruit, and that feels like an oversight given the state's incredible fruit heritage. The Red Delicious apple, born from a stubborn seedling in Madison County, became the most popular apple variety in the world. Iowa's strawberry farms have been feeding families for generations. And the state's native wild fruits have sustained communities since long before European settlement.
If Iowa ever does get around to naming an official state fruit, the apple would be the obvious choice. No other state can claim to have given the world a variety as famous and widely planted as the Red Delicious. The original tree from Jesse Hiatt's orchard near Peru still survives today, protected by a monument, a fence, and a private horticulturist, a living reminder of Iowa's outsized contribution to American fruit history.
Whether you're shopping for a best-selling gift basket or planning your next fall orchard visit, Iowa's fruit heritage is well worth celebrating.