'Tsugaru', is a Japanese applecultivar of which development began in 1930 at the Aomori Apple Experiment Station (now the Apple Research Institute),[1]Kuroishi,Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Commercial production of this cultivar began in 1975.[2][3] It was developed by crossing 'Golden Delicious' x'Jonathan' (known asKōgyoku (紅玉) in Japanese).[3][4][5]
The name 'Tsugaru' was not selected until 1970, which is the name for the western part of Aomori Prefecture where it was first cultivated.[6] Earlier names included: 'Golden Unknown,' 'Unknown No. 7,' 'Benibayashi,' 'Takatsuki,' and 'Early Fuji.' It was then provisionally named 'Aori No. 2 in 1970 but later that year a naming competition was held and 'Tsugaru' was selected.[7][8]
'Tsugaru' apples have a firm, juicy flesh with a sweet flavor.[2][3] It is consumed primarily raw and in desserts. It is cruncy, sweet, and juicy.[3][5]
In its native Aomori Prefecture, it is harvested from late-August to early-September, making it an early harvest cultivar.[9][10][11] 'Tsugaru' is the most popular early harvest apple cultivar in Japan. In 2014 it accounted for 11.2 percent of Japan's apple production.[10] It is the second most popular apple overall in Japan, after theFuji, which is half of the Japanese apple market.[12][13] There are two ways of harvesting the 'Tsugaru' fruit. One is to let them grow naturally in full sun to produce the highest sugar content and the other is to wrap them in bags to reduce sun exposure, which creates a tarter flavor.[14] It is prone to latefruit drop, just before harvest time.[13][15][7][8] Acceptance of the cultivar was initially slow due to a high rate of fruit drop, the oil floating on the surface of the fruit when stored in a normal warehouse, and poor coloring. These problems were eventually overcome.[7] In 2015, 'Tsugaru' was ranked 21st in global production.[8] Japanese production in 2023 was:Aomori Prefecture (36,700 tons),Nagano Prefecture (17,400 tons),Yamagata Prefecture (3,390 tons),Iwate Prefecture (3,000 tons),Hokkaido (1,680 tons), andFukushima Prefecture (1,260 tons).[13]
The pollen parent of 'Tsugaru' was uncertain until 1990 when DNA analysis proved it was the 'Jonathan' cultivar.[8][16] The 'Tsugaru' cultivar was introduced to America in 1999,[14] where it grows inUnited States Department of Agriculture zones 4-8. Mature dwarf height is about 12 feet (3.7 m) feet and mature semi-dwarf height is about 16 feet (4.9 m) feet. It prefers full sun.[4] It will keep a month at room temperature and three months refrigerated,[5] though exact times vary with ripeness at harvesting and storage conditions.[17][18] It is medium-sized with a cream colored flesh with a peel that has a yellow-green base and is about 75% red with stripes on the sun exposed side. In a decades-long study,climate change was found to decrease the acid concentration, firmness, and watercore rating, whereas the soluble-solids concentration increased in both 'Fuji' and 'Tsugaru' apple cultivars.[19] This cultivar has goodfire blight resistance.[20]
^"History of Aomori".Amazing Aomori: The Official Aomori Travel Guide. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
^abc"つがる・あおり2号" [Tsugaru and Aori No. 2] (in Japanese). Ringo University. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
^abcdIchiki, Shigeru (August 29, 2019)."第14回 早生品種のエース「つがる」" [14th: The Ace of Early Varieties, 'Tsugaru']. Professor Ichiki's Apple Science Lecture (in Japanese). Ringo University. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
^abc"令和5年産りんごの結果樹面積、収穫量及び出荷量" [FY2023 apple fruit tree area, harvest volume, and shipping volume] (in Japanese). Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. May 17, 2024. Archived fromthe original on November 22, 2024. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
^Abe, K.; Arakawa, O. (2015). "Apples".果樹園芸学 [Fruit Tree Horticulture] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Bun'ei-do Shuppan. pp. 59–90.ISBN9784830041297.
^Sugiyama, Fumiko; Sugiyama, Yasushi (2005).『青森県のりんご 市販の品種とりんごの話題』 [Apples of Aomori Prefecture: Commercially Available Varieties and Apple Topics] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Kitanomachisha. p. 107.ISBN4873731410.
^Chung, Hun-Sik; Moon, Kwang-Deog (June 2009). "Browning characteristics of fresh-cut 'Tsugaru' apples as affected by pre-slicing storage atmospheres".Food Chemistry.114 (4):1433–1437.doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.11.027.
^"紅はつみ（べにはつみ" [Beni Hatsumi] (in Japanese). Ringo University. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
^"りんごパラダイス vol.5『りんご「はやて」を食べてみました』" [Apple Paradise vol.5 "I tried the Hayate apple"] (in Japanese). Ringo University. September 19, 2023. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
^Hatakeyama, T.; Takahashi, T.; Ohno, H.; Onoda, K.; Tamura, H.; Ono, H.; Obara, S.; Okudaira, M.; Sasaki, H. (October 2011)."New Apple Cultivar 'IWATE No.7'".岩手県農業研究センター研究報告. CiNii. pp. 34–42. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
^"北の幸（きたのさち）" [Northern Blessings] (in Japanese). Ringo University. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
^"もりのかがやき" [Forest Brilliance] (in Japanese). Ringo University. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
^"シナノレッド" [Shinano Red] (in Japanese). Ringo University. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
^"富香（とみか）" [Tomika] (in Japanese). Ringo University. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
^"秋映（あきばえ）" [秋映（あきばえ] (in Japanese). Ringo University. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
^"キュート" [Cute] (in Japanese). Ringo University. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
^"ファーストレディ" [First Lady] (in Japanese). Ringo University. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
^"ハックナイン（HAC-9）" [Hakku Nine] (in Japanese). Ringo University. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
^"かんき" [Kanki] (in Japanese). Ringo University. RetrievedDecember 11, 2025.
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Japan, 1930
