Honeycrisp apples went from marvel to mediocre

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Why Honeycrisp Feels Worse Now

  • Many commenters report Honeycrisps now taste blander, more watery, or “like crunchy water” compared with 10–20 years ago.
  • A recurring explanation: long-term cold storage and year‑round supply. Apples can be stored up to a year, trading flavor and texture for availability.
  • Some argue the article underexplains the decline, especially why even farmers-market apples can be hit or miss.
  • Others say they still get excellent Honeycrisps in season and/or from specific growers or regions, suggesting strong regional and supply‑chain effects rather than a universal decline.

Seasonality, Storage, and Industrial Agriculture

  • Strong theme: mass‑market agriculture breeds for storability, transportability, appearance, and year‑round availability, not taste.
  • Comparisons made to tomatoes, berries, corn, carrots, garlic, and chicken: “good off the farm, bland from the supermarket.”
  • Several people advocate eating fruit seasonally and locally; others note winter diets in many regions inevitably depend on storage or imports.

Local vs Supermarket & Farmer’s Markets

  • Multiple reports that apples (and other produce) from genuine local orchards/roadside stands are dramatically better.
  • Skepticism about farmers’ markets: some vendors allegedly resell wholesale/Costco produce while posing as local. Certified markets and direct-from-orchard sales are seen as more reliable.

Apple Varieties and Preferences

  • Strong disagreement on “best” apples: Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp, Envy, SweeTango, Pink Lady, Mutsu, Cox, Macoun, McIntosh, SnapDragon, Gold Rush, and many others are praised or dismissed.
  • Some argue every once‑great variety (Red Delicious, Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp) gets “optimized to death” once it goes mass-market.
  • An “apple rankings” site is frequently referenced; many enjoy it, but others criticize its subjectivity, regional bias, and comedic tone.

Breeding, Propagation, and Grower Challenges

  • Explanation that apple varieties are clonal (grafted), so shifts come from “sports” (mutations), rootstock choice, and grower selection, not seed breeding.
  • Growers describe Honeycrisp (and Cosmic Crisp) as finicky: sensitive to water, climate, and storage; prone to disorders; thin skin and hail damage.
  • Some note that what consumers want in blind tasting (flavor, texture) differs from what they buy under supermarket conditions (reliability, looks, shelf life).

Broader Themes

  • Several commenters frame this as “enshittification” of fruit and of products in general: brands/varieties start great, then are degraded by industrial incentives.