Gala (apple)

Lore & Background

The first Gala apple tree was one of many seedlings resulting from a cross between a Golden Delicious and a Kidd's Orange Red, planted in Greytown, Wairarapa, New Zealand in the 1930s by orchardist J.H. Kidd. It was selected in 1939 and introduced in 1960. Donald W. McKenzie, an employee of Stark Bros Nursery, obtained a US plant patent for the cultivar on October 15, 1974. The variety is clonally propagated, like most named apples, and is easy to grow.

Gala apples are non-uniform in color, usually vertically striped or mottled with an overall orange color. They have creamy white flesh that is sweet, fine textured, and aromatic. In addition to being eaten raw and cooked, they are especially suitable for creating sauces. Many sports of Gala have been selected, mostly for increased red color, including the popular Royal Gala, which was patented by Stark in 1977 and produces redder fruits than the original cultivar.

During the 1980s, American wholesalers began searching for new apple varieties, and one they picked was the Gala. In 2018, the Gala surpassed Red Delicious as the apple cultivar with the highest production in the United States, according to the US Apple Association. It was the first time in over 50 years that any cultivar was produced more than Red Delicious. By 2024, the Gala accounted for 17% of sales in the United States, more than any other apple.

Reader's Guide

Gala apples have become a dominant force in global apple production, particularly in North America. Their rise to prominence is notable for displacing Red Delicious as the most-produced apple cultivar in the United States in 2018, a position Red Delicious had held for over 50 years. By 2024, Gala accounted for 17% of US apple sales, more than any other variety. In Canada, Gala became one of the top apple varieties by the 2020s, alongside Ambrosia and Honeycrisp, with most Canadian Gala apples grown in Ontario and British Columbia. The variety also represents about 20% of the total volume of commercial eating apple production in the UK, often replacing Cox's Orange Pippin. Gala's success stems from its sweet, mild flavor, crisp but not hard texture, and ease of growing. Its availability is extended through cold storage and controlled atmosphere storage, making it available nearly year-round in many markets. The development of sports like Royal Gala, which produces redder fruits, has further enhanced its commercial appeal. The original Gala has almost disappeared as a commercial apple in New Zealand in favor of the darker-skinned Royal Gala.

Did You Know?

• Gala was developed from a cross between Golden Delicious and Kidd's Orange Red in New Zealand in the 1930s.
• In 2018, Gala surpassed Red Delicious as the apple cultivar with the highest production in the United States, the first time in over 50 years any cultivar had done so.
• Royal Gala is a sport of Gala that produces redder fruits and was patented by Stark in 1977.
• Gala apples have a density of 0.86 g/cc, sugar content of 13.5%, and acidity of 4.2 grams per liter.