From the Living Museum
Goldrush
- Origin
- PRI (Purdue–Rutgers–Illinois) cooperative breeding program (Golden Delicious × Co-op 17); released 1994
- Era
- Released 1994
- Type / use
- Dessert · Fresh eating
History & Stories
Scab-immune (Vf gene) modern dessert apple with crisp, complex sweet-tart flavor that improves in storage. Unique as one of the first high-quality, truly disease-resistant varieties that can stand comparison with classic dessert apples — a landmark for organic and low-spray growers.
Folklore & Name
PRI cooperative breeding release (1994). Its breeder Jules Janick said the name refers to its "old" gold color and rush of flavor 1. Landmark scab-immune dessert apple.
Digging into the History
Below my own notes, here is what the old fruit books and today’s collections record about this apple, kept apart from the stories people tell.
What we know
GoldRush came from the Purdue–Rutgers–Illinois (PRI) cooperative apple-breeding program, where it was tested as Co-op 38. A 2000 Fruit Grower article reprinted by Purdue says it "was released in 1994" and "was selected from a cross between Golden Delicious and Coop 17," quoting Purdue horticulturist Jules Janick 1. Like other PRI apples, it was bred for resistance to apple scab 1.
The competing accounts
- Fruit Grower (2000), reprinted by Purdue 1: tested as Co-op 38, a cross of Golden Delicious and Co-op 17, and "released in 1994."
- A release year of 1993 is also given in some lists, but we did not find a source for it.
Most likely (our judgment, not a certainty): 1994. That is the date in the program's own published account, and a 1993 date may refer to an earlier test release. We have not confirmed that.
What we think: stories & traditions
Why the name? Janick explained that GoldRush "is named for its 'old' gold color and rush of flavor" 1. The article describes growers falling for its intense flavour, with sugar readings that "can hit 20% soluble solids" 1.
The article we checked gives 1994 for the release 1.
Sources
- Stella Naegely, "Good As Gold," Fruit Grower (February 2000), reprinted by Purdue University PRI program. hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/pri/more38.html
Curious about Goldrush?
Email us at drgoss@honeytreeorchard.com.