Often the first summer apple harvested each August, Paula Red is bright and pleasingly tart, sometimes described as having hints of strawberry or pear.
Paula Reds are round and slightly squat, with a vivid red skin over a yellow background, occasionally marked with tan patches. The variety was discovered in 1960 in the Fruit Ridge area northwest of Grand Rapids, also home to Riveridge, and was named after the grower’s wife, Pauline. It reached the market about eight years later.
Excellent for snacking, salads, and applesauce, Paula Red is the definition of a summer apple, often gone from shelves before many fall varieties are even picked.
