Williams Pride

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William's Pride is a complex hybrid whose ancestry includes Melba, Rome, Wealthy, Jonathan and many others. It is scab resistant, as it has the Vf gene from Malus Floribunda selection #821. It was released under the PRI program of Purdue, Rutgers and Illinois Universities in 1987. It was tested under the name Co-op 23. Apart from being resistant to scab, it is also said to be resistant to Fire Blight and Mildew. This is an early apple, mid-size, of a deep red colour. Said to be hardy to zone 4 and to keep 6 weeks. Generally more recommended for gardens and home orchards than for commercial production. <a style="text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" title="" href="http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/pri/coop23-3.html">Complete description and pedigree from the site of the breeders</a> (should open in a new window) Picture from Claude's orchard, August 26, 2006, largest was 66 mm across. Note red-stained flesh. <img alt="" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/silo.grou.ps/userimages/groworganicapples/20090629172744-zalmxtdyaceazwwbu.jpg" align="none"> GROWER COMMENTS: 
<a href="../../people/zalmxtdyaceazwwbu">Claude Jolicoeur</a>, Quebec, Zone 4I have grafted William's Pride in a couple of trees in 2001, and got
first fruits in 2004. This apple rapidly became my favorite early
apple. I normally harvest it by last week of August, about 10 to 15
days after Yellow Transparent. It has a firmness and a flavour
comparable to apples that ripen much later, and I have kept some in the
refrigerator for over a month in excellent condition. The fruit
appearance is excellent without spray. Some years, the flesh gets quite
pink. It has been a good regular bearer, but for the last 3 years, it
seems to be entering into a pattern of alternate bearing. But it is
still early to say for sure. There has been no hardiness problem in my
zone 4 orchard. 
Juice tests that I have done had a specific gravity between 1.040 and
1.045, with a balanced acidity. The fresh juice is quite good, but the
sugar content is too low in my opinion for a good cider apple. <a href="../../people/tlqlqqbsfjidwysiz">Kevin Frank</a>, New Hampshire, Zone 4/5Very dependable and tasty early apple. Don't wait too long to harvest or it will over ripen easily. <a href="../people/zafnvgevujduvbzyf">Jim Gallott</a>, Vermont Tough tree, dependable production, sweet and flavorful, even with
indifferent care. Excellent size (I usually hand-thin) and consistent
production (at least when thinned). In Vermont, can get very sweet (can
sometimes watercore like Delicious) if left on tree to fully ripen.
Pick earlier if you prefer tarter apples. Bakes well. Fully dark-red
skin, color can bleed into flesh on later harvested fruit. Harvested
around 20th August usually. If I could only grow one variety, this
would be it. <a href="../../people/ricucqqlsauujwpag">David Maxwell</a>, Nova Scotia, Zone 5b (Wet Atlantic climate) Outstanding in my orchard (where there is
considerable scab pressure). Absolutely free of scab, superb flavour. I
have been harvesting around Sept. 7, at which time it is still somewhat
tart, so probably not over-ripe. (I think we are cooler than Upper
Canada - warmer in winter, but cooler in summer, and hence a little
later in ripening.)

GROWER COMMENTS:

Claude Jolicoeur, Quebec, Zone 4

I have grafted William's Pride in a couple of trees in 2001, and got first fruits in 2004. This apple rapidly became my favorite early apple. I normally harvest it by last week of August, about 10 to 15 days after Yellow Transparent. It has a firmness and a flavour comparable to apples that ripen much later, and I have kept some in the refrigerator for over a month in excellent condition. The fruit appearance is excellent without spray. Some years, the flesh gets quite pink. It has been a good regular bearer, but for the last 3 years, it seems to be entering into a pattern of alternate bearing. But it is still early to say for sure. There has been no hardiness problem in my zone 4 orchard.
Juice tests that I have done had a specific gravity between 1.040 and 1.045, with a balanced acidity. The fresh juice is quite good, but the sugar content is too low in my opinion for a good cider apple.

Kevin Frank, New Hampshire, Zone 4/5

Very dependable and tasty early apple. Don't wait too long to harvest or it will over ripen easily.

Jim Gallott, Vermont
Tough tree, dependable production, sweet and flavorful, even with indifferent care. Excellent size (I usually hand-thin) and consistent production (at least when thinned). In Vermont, can get very sweet (can sometimes watercore like Delicious) if left on tree to fully ripen. Pick earlier if you prefer tarter apples. Bakes well. Fully dark-red skin, color can bleed into flesh on later harvested fruit. Harvested around 20th August usually. If I could only grow one variety, this would be it.

David Maxwell, Nova Scotia, Zone 5b (Wet Atlantic climate)
Outstanding in my orchard (where there is considerable scab pressure). Absolutely free of scab, superb flavour. I have been harvesting around Sept. 7, at which time it is still somewhat tart, so probably not over-ripe. (I think we are cooler than Upper Canada - warmer in winter, but cooler in summer, and hence a little later in ripening.)