Norcue

(Heyer 12 X Rescue)

This cultivar originated at the Morden Research Station, Agriculture Canada, bred by Dr. C. R. Ure for the Prairie Fruit Breeding Cooperative, selected in 1958 by the Beaverlodge Research Station and was released in 1975. The tree is vigorous, upright-spreading, precocious, and annually productive. It is hardy to Zone 2a, and its reaction to fire blight is still untested. The fruit is small, 5.5 cm (2"+) in diameter and slightly oblate, and matures in early season, from early to mid August. The skin is thin, green-yellow, and mostly covered with dull red stripes. The flesh is cream to yellow, tinged with pink, crisp, juicy, very sweet and full flavoured. It is fair to good for fresh eating, good for cooking, and stores well for an early summer apple.

Our trees have succumbed to the cold. Probably not hardy enough for Fairbanks.