The Red Van apple, also known as Early Red Van or Erovian, is a winter variety of American selection belonging to the Red Delicious group. It is a medium-sized tree with a compact, rounded crown, reaching a height of about 3 meters. It begins to bear fruit as early as the 2nd-3rd year after planting, allowing for stable and high yields of tasty and beneficial fruits. Harvesting in the climatic conditions of southern Ukraine begins in the first half of September and continues until the end of September, making this variety attractive for both industrial orchards and enthusiasts.
Red Van fruits are large, with a truncated-conical symmetrical shape and an average weight ranging from 180 to 220 grams. The apple skin, when fully ripe, acquires a dark red, shiny color, completely covering the fruit. The flesh is white, dense, very juicy, and slightly fibrous, possessing a pleasant aroma and a harmonious sweet-sour dessert flavor that surpasses the quality of the Red Delicious variety. Thanks to its taste qualities and attractive appearance, apples of this variety are highly valued in the market.
One of the important advantages of the Red Van variety is its high frost resistance and resistance to major diseases, which facilitates tree care and increases their viability. The fruits are distinguished by a long storage period: they retain freshness and taste qualities for up to 3 months at room temperature and up to 7 months under controlled storage conditions. This makes the variety particularly convenient for long-term use and marketing.
