Granny Smith

Lore & Background

The Granny Smith cultivar originated in Eastwood, New South Wales, Australia (now a suburb of Sydney) in 1868. Its discoverer, Maria Ann Smith, had emigrated to the district from Beckley, East Sussex in 1839 with her husband Thomas. They purchased a small orchard in the area in 1855–1856 and began cultivating fruit. Smith had eight children and was a prominent figure in the district, earning the nickname 'Granny' Smith in her advanced years. The first description of the origin of the Granny Smith apple was not published until 1924. In that year, Farmer and Settler published the account of a local historian who had interviewed two men who had known Smith. One recalled that, in 1868, he and his father had been invited to Smith's farm to inspect a chance seedling that had sprung near a creek, where Smith had dumped the remains of French crab-apples that had been grown in Tasmania. Another story recounted that Smith had been testing French crab-apples for cooking and, throwing the apple cores out her window, found the new cultivar had sprung up underneath her kitchen windowsill. Whatever the case, Smith propagated the new cultivar on her property, finding the apples good for cooking and for general consumption. She took a stall at Sydney's George Street market, where the apples stored exceptionally well and became popular.

Reader's Guide

The Granny Smith apple's significance lies in its origin as a chance seedling propagated by Maria Ann Smith in 1868 in Australia. Its long storage life—attributed to low ethylene production—allowed it to be exported long distances, contributing to its worldwide fame. By 1975, 40 percent of Australia's apple crop was Granny Smith. The cultivar is moderately susceptible to fire blight and very prone to scab, powdery mildew, and cedar apple rust, but its excellent shelf life made it a commercial success. It is now celebrated annually in Eastwood with the Granny Smith Festival. The apple also appears in cultural references, such as the Beatles' Apple Corps logo and a 2013 United States Postal Service stamp set. Its tart flavor makes it versatile for cooking and raw consumption.

Did You Know?

• The Granny Smith apple originated from a chance seedling near a creek where Maria Ann Smith had dumped French crab-apple remains.
• The apple was first exhibited as 'Smith's Seedling' at the Castle Hill Agricultural and Horticultural Show in 1890.
• Granny Smith apples can be stored without loss of quality for as long as a year under the right conditions.
• The Beatles used an image of a Granny Smith apple as the logo for their corporation, Apple Corps Limited.