| SugarBee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Species | Malus domestica |
| Hybrid parentage | Honeycrisp × unknown |
| Cultivar | B51 or CN121 |
| Marketing names | SugarBee |
| Origin |  Worthington, Minnesota, 1990s |
SugarBee (B51 [1] or CN121 [2] ) is a cultivated variety or cultivar of apple discovered by Chuck Nystrom in the early 1990s at his orchard in Worthington, Minnesota. [3] Believed to be a hybrid between a Honeycrisp and another, unknown variety, [1] it is named in recognition of the role played by bees in open pollination, making the variety possible. [4] It was brought to market in 2016. [5] This apple variety is harvested in the fall and is suitable for snacking, baking, apple butter, cooking, juicing, apple sauce, and salads. [6] [7] Like its parent variety, the Honeycrisp, the SugarBee is a sweet and crisp apple, but is capable of lasting much longer in controlled-atmosphere storage. [4] Its flavor is similar to caramel and molasses. [7] It is initially available from October to May, [6] but since 2024, efforts have been made to ensure that SugarBee apples are available all year round. [5]
SugarBee propagation rights are held by Regal Fruit International and licensed to Gebbers Farms and the Chelan Fruit Cooperative in Washington State to produce the variety in the United States. [1] Patent for the SugarBee will expire in 2032. [8] In the 2023-24 crop year, the SugarBee accounted for 17% of the apples produced in small volumes in Washington, a category that included 5.5% of the total production of that state. [9] Production grew from 402,000 boxes in 2020 to almost 1.5 million four years later. [9] Demand for organic SugarBee apples has been rising as well. [10] However, due to limited supplies, SugarBee apples are currently only available for sale at small or regional grocery chains. [9]
