| Fuji | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Species | Malus domestica |
| Hybrid parentage | Red Delicious ×Ralls Janet |
| Cultivar | Fuji |
| Origin |  Fujisaki, Aomori, 1939 |
TheFuji apple (Japanese:ふじ,Hepburn:Fuji) is an applecultivar developed by growers at theTōhoku Research Station of theMinistry of Agriculture and Forestry (農林省園芸試験場東北支場,Nōrinshō engei shikenjō Tōhoku-shijō) inFujisaki, Aomori, Japan, in 1939.[1] It originated as a cross between two American apple varieties—theRed Delicious andRalls Janet (sometimes called "Rawls Jennet") apples.[2]
The Fuji was named and brought to market in 1962; its name is derived from the first part of the town where it was developed: Fujisaki.[3] Its flavor is sweet and its texture is crisp. It can be used to makeapple sauce.[4] According to theUS Apple Association website, it is one of the nine most popular apple cultivars in the United States.[5]
Fuji apples are typically round and range from large to very large, averaging 75 millimetres (3.0 in) in diameter. They contain from 9–11%sugars by weight and have a dense flesh that is sweeter and crisper than many other apple cultivars, making them popular with consumers around the world. Fuji apples also have a very longshelf life compared to other apples, even withoutrefrigeration. With refrigeration, Fuji apples can remain fresh for up to a year.[6]
The Fuji thrives in areas with relatively warm summers.[2] A late-season variety, the Fuji ripens after theMcIntosh, Gala, and Honeycrisp, but at the same time as theEmpire, Red Delicious, andEverCrisp.[7]
In Japan, Fuji apples continue to be an unrivaled best-seller. Japanese consumers prefer the crispy texture and sweetness of Fuji apples (which is somewhat reminiscent of the covetedNashi pear) almost to the exclusion of other varieties[citation needed] and Japan's apple imports remain low.[8]Aomori Prefecture, home of the Fuji apple, is the best known apple growing region of Japan. Of the roughly 900,000tons of Japanese apples produced annually, 500,000 tons come from Aomori.
Outside Japan, the popularity of Fuji apples continues to grow. In 2016 and 2017, Fuji apples accounted for nearly 70% ofChina's 43 million tons grown.[9] The Fuji has been a market success in North America since its debut there in the late twentieth century.[10][11] As of 2024, the Fuji ranked fifth among the most popular apple varieties in the United States, behind only theGala,Red Delicious,Granny Smith, andHoneycrisp.[12] It is also one of the top varieties in Canada, alongside theAmbrosia, Gala, and Honeycrisp.[11] Most American Fuji apples are grown Washington State, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Oregon.[13]: 20 However, by 2025, the Fuji dropped to sixth place in Washington State, overtaken by theCosmic Crisp.[14]
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In the United States and Canada, theprice look-up code for Fuji apples is 4131.
Many sports (mutantcultivars) of the Fuji apple have been recognized and propagated. In addition to those that have remained unpatented, twenty had receivedUS plant patents by August 2008:
| Date | "Inventor" | Marketed as | Mutated from | Assignee | Habit | Pattern | Earlier | Color | Plant patent number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 1989 | Hiraragi | Yataka | Fuji | Makoto Okada | standard | stripe | 1 Month | – | US plant patent 7001 |
| Oct 6, 1992 | Yahagi | Heisei Fuji, Beni Shogun9645 | Yataka7001 | Nakajima Tenkoen | standard | solid | no | dark red | US plant patent 7997 |
| Nov 17, 1992 | Cooper | T.A.C.#114 | Redsport Type 2 | T.A.C. | spur | stripe | 10–14 days | more brilliant red, 80—90% | US plant patent 8032 |
| Sep 26, 1995 | Fukuda | Tensei | Fuji | Fukushima Tenkoen | standard, larger | stripe | no | same | US plant patent 9298 |
| Apr 16, 1996 | Lynd | Fuji-Spike | Fuji | Lynd | spur | stripe | 0–5 days | same | US plant patent 9508 |
| Sep 24, 1996 | Van Leuven | Myra | unknown red strain | C & O | standard | blush w/ subtle stripe | 1 week | bright pink | US plant patent 9645 |
| Dec 9, 1997 | Auvil | Fuji 216 | T.A.C.#1148032 | Auvil | standard | blush | 5–21 days | brighter red, 90—100% | US plant patent 10141 |
| Mar 24, 1998 | Coopr & Perkins | Fuji Compact T.A.C. #114 | T.A.C.#1148032 | T.A.C. | spur | same | same | same | US plant patent 10291 |
| Jan 25, 2000 | Van Leuven | Fiero | Yataka7001 | C & O | standard | indistinct stripe | 7–10 days | more intense blush | US plant patent 11193 |
| Sep 18, 2001 | Snyder | Snyder | BC 2 | Snyder | semi-spur | heavy stripe | same | same | US plant patent 12098 |
| Nov 27, 2001 | Torres | Triple E | BC 2 | – | standard | 85—100% blush | 10–14 days | solid red | US plant patent 12219 |
| Apr 16, 2002 | Rankin | Rankin Red | Yakata7001 | Twin Springs Fruit Farm | standard | 70—90% blush | 5 days | more intense | US plant patent 12551 |
| Nov. 11, 2003 | Teague | Irene | BC 2 | – | standard | solid | 60 days | yellow | US plant patent 14299 |
| Oct 26, 2004 | Braun | Brak | Fuji | Kiku | standard | striped | earlier | ruby red | US plant patent 15261 |
| Feb 21, 2006 | Clevenger | Fugachee | Fuji | – | standard | 70—90% blush | 14 days before Fiero | – | US plant patent 16270 |
| Jun 6, 2006 | Banning | Banning Red | Desert Rose Fuji | Banning | standard | stripe | – | redder | US plant patent 16624 |
| Aug 14, 2007 | Lee, Edwards, Delugar | CABp | Nagafu 6 | CABp 4 | standard | stripe | – | "superior" | US plant patent 17914 |
| Sep 11, 2007 | Eppich | Eppich 2 | T.A.C. #1148032 | – | standard | blush with light stripe | unclear | yellow and red | US plant patent 18004 |
| Apr 29, 2008 | Braun | Fuji Fubrax | Fuji | Kiku SRL | standard | dark ruby red stripes and blush | late | green-yellow | US plant patent 18761 |
| Jul 29, 2008 | Leis, Mazzola | Fujiko | Nagafu 12 | Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti | standard | diffused | – | more intense red | US plant patent 19054 |
Unpatented Fuji mutants include:
