Donnybrook - NOT the home of the Granny Smith apple / myLot

Rockingham, Australia

August 8, 2020 6:57pm CST

I live near Donnybrook in Western Australia. We are surrounded by orchards and vineyards. There are also a lot of vegetables grown here. In earlier days, the orchards were almost all dedicated to apples and several new varieties were produced here. Each Easter, an Apple Festival is held in Donnybrook. Donnybrook was sometimes called ‘the home of the Granny Smith’ but, as the photo explains, the apple variety originated in Eastwood, New South Wales, in 1868. Donnybrook was the first area to produce the apple in commercial quantities. Maria Ann Smith first propagated the cultivar from a chance seedling. Because of her numerous descendants, she became known as ‘Granny Smith’. The apple is renowned for its cooking and keeping qualities but is also a delicious eating apple. In parts of Canada, the apple is known as ‘Green Delux’. The US Postal Service featured the Granny Smith on a stamp in 2013. The Beatles used a Granny Smith image as the logo for Apple Corps Limited.

12 people like this

11 responses

Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (13162)

• Ireland

9 Aug 20

@judyev When I hear apple I don't automatically think Australia - now 'll have to.

2 people like this

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Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (13162)

• Ireland

9 Aug 20

@JudyEv County Armagh! It’s known as the orchard of Ulster.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342179)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Aug 20

Are Granny Smith apples available there? What would you normally automatically think - Spain, California?

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342179)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Aug 20

@xFiacre Oh, okay. Something I've learnt today.

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George B Vieto

@Deepizzaguy (104214)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

9 Aug 20

Thank you for sharing the story about the home of Granny Smith apples.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342179)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Aug 20

You're welcome. Can you buy Granny Smith apples there?

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George B Vieto

@Deepizzaguy (104214)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

9 Aug 20

@JudyEv I believe that Granny Apples are sold in the markets in the U S.

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rebel_woman06

@SIMPLYD (90721)

• Philippines

9 Aug 20

How i wish, Granny Smith apple is also available here. We import apples here in the Philippines. We have Fuji Apple, Delicious apple, green apple and the small Chinese apples. I like Fuji apple the most with those i have enumerated. I would like to someday be able to taste other varieties of apple , specially that and the Ambrosia apple.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342179)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Aug 20

We have a number of varieties but not nearly as many as some countries. I'm not familiar with the Ambrosia. Fuji and Delicious are popular here too.

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Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (61651)

• Centralia, Washington

9 Aug 20

Your area sounds lovely. My choice of apple for pie is a Gravenstein or a Jonagold and third best the Yellow Delcious. Transparents are super for sauce.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342179)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Aug 20

Of those varieties, I only know the Yellow Delicious although it's called the Golden Delicious here.

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Kharla Jolly

@kobesbuddy (78871)

• East Tawas, Michigan

9 Aug 20

My daughter's favorite apple is the 'Granny Smith!' I love many kinds of apples, the Golden Delicious is one of my favorites:)

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342179)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Aug 20

I picked apples for one season and straight off the tree the Golden Delicious are great. I find them a bit floury if I buy them in the shop.

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Kharla Jolly

@kobesbuddy (78871)

• East Tawas, Michigan

9 Aug 20

@JudyEv We have good apples grown in Washington State, that are imported to Michigan. Michigan grows some nice apples, mostly McIntoch and Gala.

1 person likes this

CarolDM

@CarolDM (203422)

• Nashville, Tennessee

9 Aug 20

I have a friend that loves these apples. I prefer the sweeter ones but what a piece of history to learn!

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342179)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Aug 20

I was wondering if you grow them there. :)

3 people like this

CarolDM

@CarolDM (203422)

• Nashville, Tennessee

9 Aug 20

@JudyEv I don't know of anyone personally, but I do know they are grown here, since the 1970s I believe.

snowy

@snowy22315 (182257)

• United States

9 Aug 20

I didn't realize they orignated in Australia. Granny Smith apples used to be really good, but now that they are grown other places and by other growers they don't have the same crisp, sweet flavor they used to.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342179)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Aug 20

There is a huge variety of apple types to choose from now. The GS is still popular here but mostly for cooking.

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