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'Macoun'
'Macoun'
Hybrid parentage	'McIntosh' × 'Jersey Black'
Cultivar	'Macoun'
Origin	Geneva, New York, USA, introduced 1923

'Macoun' apples are a cross between the 'McIntosh' and 'Jersey Black' cultivars.^[1] The Macoun ("Ma-cown," after the variety's namesake, Canadian horticulturalist W.T. Macoun, but sometimes also pronounced either "Ma-coon" or "McCowan") was developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, by Richard Wellington. It was first introduced in 1932,^[2] and is an eating apple. This apple is popular for making European style apple pies because it does not break down during cooking and remains firm. Macouns are also very popular at roadside stands and pick-your-own farms. Availability is generally October through November.^[3]

Aside from its short season of availability, the popularity of the apple is compromised by the problems it gives orchardists. The 'Macoun' has a short stem, and there is a tendency for the apple to push itself off the branch as the fruit matures; also, the 'Macoun' tends not to produce reliable crops each year, with a good harvest followed by a sparser one.

The patent application for the 'Honeycrisp' apple stated that it was descended from 'Macoun' crossed with 'Honeygold', but this has since been disproved by genetic testing.^[4]

The Price look-up code for all sizes of Macoun apples is 3073.^[5]

Characteristics

The skin is a dark red with a purplish flush. Its very firm flesh is juicy and snow white, tasting sweet with a hint of berry.

Disease susceptibility

Scab: High^[6]
Powdery mildew: High
Cedar apple rust: High
Fire blight: Medium

References

^ "CALS Impact: Five Important Apple Varieties Named by Cornell." http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/public/impact/apple-varieties.cfm
^ "Macoun". New York Apple Association. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
^ Obst und Garten 10/2000
^ Cabe, Paul R.; Baumgaten, Andrew; Onan, Kyle; Luby, James J.; Bedford, David S. (2005). "Using microsatellite analysis to verify breeding records: A study of 'Honeycrisp' and other cold-hardy apple cultivars" (PDF). HortScience. 40 (1): 15–17. doi:10.21273/HORTSCI.40.1.15. ISSN 2327-9834. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-05-16.
^ "3073 Apples Macoun". Zeento.cloud. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
^ Dr. Stephen Miller of the USDA Fruit Research Lab in Kearneysville, West Virginia.