Honeycrisp still has plenty of pull in the produce aisle, but it did not sweep the board in a recent round of grower picks. In a November 2026 report from The Kitchn, orchard operators in New York and Washington named other apples they reach for when flavor, texture, and kitchen use matter most.
The growers’ picks start with older regional favorites
The Kitchn interviewed family-run orchard operators about which apples they actually favor, and the answers landed on four familiar names: McIntosh, Macoun, Cortland, and Empire. Jenna Mulbury of Northern Orchard in Peru, New York, told the outlet that McIntosh is her favorite apple to eat fresh off the tree, describing that just-picked sweet tart flavor as distinctly autumnal.
That recommendation matters because McIntosh often has a softer reputation in grocery stores than it does at the orchard. Mulbury said the fruit is firmer when fresh, which helps explain why growers and direct-market shoppers can have a different view of the variety than supermarket buyers do. For home cooks, that is a reminder that timing and source can change the eating experience as much as the variety name.
The same story highlighted Macoun as another favorite, especially for people who want a balanced sweet tart bite. Cortland also made the list for kitchen use, with its reputation for holding color after slicing making it a practical choice for salads, snack boards, and pies. Empire rounded out the group as another grower-backed pick, giving shoppers a range of options that goes well beyond the usual Honeycrisp default.
Honeycrisp is still a major apple, even if it is not every grower’s top choice
None of those grower preferences mean Honeycrisp is fading from the market. USApple’s 2025 to 2026 crop outlook said Gala was forecast to account for 16% of U.S. production, Red Delicious 13%, and Honeycrisp 12%, keeping Honeycrisp among the country’s largest varieties. In a later industry outlook released in August 2026, USApple also said Honeycrisp was among the varieties that had increased production over the past five years.
That is an important distinction for shoppers. A farmer saying another apple tastes better does not mean Honeycrisp has lost its place in stores or orchards. It means popularity and grower preference are not always the same thing, especially when growers weigh flavor, texture, harvest timing, and how a fruit performs in the field.
Other reporting helps explain the split. KGOU, an NPR member station, reported in November 2025 that Washington farmer Kait Thornton pointed listeners toward Cosmic Crisp, SugarBee, and EverCrisp as standout varieties with different sweetness and tartness profiles. Taken together, that reporting suggests many growers admire Honeycrisp while still keeping other favorites for fresh eating, baking, or variety-specific flavor.
Why this matters when you are buying apples for the kitchen
For home cooks, the practical lesson is to buy with a use in mind instead of assuming one apple does everything best. McIntosh and Macoun can be appealing when you want a more aromatic, sweet tart apple for eating out of hand. Cortland is a smart pick when appearance matters after slicing. Empire can suit shoppers looking for a dependable all-around apple with balanced flavor.
Honeycrisp still earns its shelf space, but growers have long noted that it can be difficult to produce. The Boston Globe reported in September 2024 that growers cited issues including pre-harvest fruit drop, biennial production, and bitter pit, all of which make the variety more demanding in the orchard. That does not change its popularity, but it helps explain why farmers often talk about other apples with a little extra affection.
If you are shopping at a farm stand or orchard this season, it may be worth asking what was picked most recently and what the grower likes for sauce, pie, or lunchbox snacking. The freshest answer may lead you to McIntosh, Macoun, Cortland, or Empire before you reach automatically for Honeycrisp.