The University of Minnesota struck gold when it released the Honeycrisp apple cultivar in 1991. A true, ripe Honeycrisp tastes like an apple with the volume turned up; both honey-sweet and bracingly tart, it conveys its full flavor in extra-juicy bites. Its larger-than-typical cells allow for the delivery of more moisture than most apple varieties.

And while the Honeycrisp is the U's most well-known creation, many others have also been developed, including the Zestar!, SweeTango, and State Fair smash First Kiss. These locally grown apples have made their presence felt across the United States, and, in recent years, Canada and New Zealand. Here in Minnesota, you can taste them straight from the tree (or close to it).

APPLE ORCHARDS

Dozens of open-to-the-public orchards dot the landscape around the state, and Minnesotans and visitors alike will have no shortage of good picking come early September through late October.

Before you head out, know that your orchard of choice will probably fall somewhere on a spectrum between the austere (pick your apples and get out) and the theme park (apple trees in the parking lot, with the emphasis on fairground rides and extensive apple-related merchandise).

Apple Jack Orchards in Delano provides a lovely mix of both ends of the spectrum. You can pick apples (if you're looking for Honeycrisp, it's predicted to come ripe in mid- to late September). Or you can hang out at the cafe and bakery, browse the market and gift shop, go on wagon, pony, or cow train rides, fire an apple cannon, and a good deal more.

Visit the Minnesota Grown website for a full list of orchards around the state, and the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association for a detailed map of the nearly 350 places where you can pick up fresh produce every week. 

APPLE CIDERIES 

Artisan cider has experienced a surge in popularity across the U.S. over the past decade. Aside from the Minneapolis-born Crispin Cider becoming a national player, the craft cider movement has begun to feel as compelling and clubby as craft beer's early days. 

Most commercial hard ciders are sugary sweet and one-note, but artisanal ciders take care to let the flavor of the fruit come through. If you're in Minneapolis, don't miss Sociable Cider Werks. Located in the hip Northeast neighborhood, Sociable features the elevated bar eats of So & So's food truck and an industrial-chic taproom. Its taps boast a variety of Midwestern apple-derived ciders that veer sharply toward the crisp and clean end of things; there are no sugar bombs here.

At Sweetland Orchard in Webster, visitors can taste a variety of hard ciders, including unique offerings like cherry rhubarb and several varieties made with heirloom apples. Many of which can also be sampled or bought onsite, depending on the season. 

Even more experimental is Keepsake Cidery, a Southern Minnesota staple that produces small-batch varietals, boldly assembled blends, and effervescent bottles that have more in common with natural wine than Woodchuck.

"There is a Minnesota-made cider for everybody," Keepsake co-founder Nate Watters said in a Minnesota Monthly story a few years ago, "dry, medium, sweet, fruited, barrel-aged, fortified, even non-alcoholic.” 

Other spots that reflect this range include Wild State Cider and Duluth Cider in that city's Lincoln Park District, St. Joseph's Milk & Honey Ciders, Number 12 Cider and its not-too-far-away-neighbor Minneapolis Cider Company (a leader in the country's pickleball craze, believe it or not), and Battle Lake's beautiful 1910 Sip House. 

You can even sample Thor's Hard Cider at Aamodt's Apple Farm, and switch between Loon Juice and hardy bottles of Marquette or Kismet at Four Daughters Winery, ensuring a little bit of something for everyone along the way.