Belmont

Belmont was planted in the islands as early as 1891 and we have located trees still growing in old orchards on Orcas and San Juan, including the tree in front of Carter House in Friday Harbor and at the Coffelt Farm Preserve (and scions are available through our annual scion exchange and grafting workshops on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan). Named after Belmont County, Ohio, the variety actually originated in Pennsylvania in 1775 and has been called Gate and Mama Beam (the original tree was planted near the garden gate of Barbara Beam . It is a relatively early ripening, medium sized yellow apple with an excellent tart flavor. Particularly good as a fresh eating apple, it can also be used in cooking. Belmont does not keep well and  it bruises easily and does not ship well, which may explain why it has become rare despite its excellent flavor.

You can view watercolors of Belmont in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection.