Jonathan is reported as being planted on Orcas in 1891 and in 1910 the San Juan Journal noted that prices for Jonathan apples were low. While we have not yet found living trees of this variety growing in ancient orchards in the islands, we have found its seedlings growing in or near orchards that were planted before 1900 on Lopez and Orcas. This variety is still available commercially as well and is particularly popular in the Midwest. It bears early, and is prolific, and has been used extensively in apple breeding.
It is a crisp apple with a balanced sweet-tart flavor. It is good fresh, and baked (it keeps its shape in pies) but does not keep.
Jonathan originated as a seedling of Esopus Spitzenburg in New York prior to 1826 and is named after a Jonathan Hasbrouck.Â
You can view watercolors of Jonathan in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection.