Fuji

Honey-Sweet · Crunchy · Dense

September – OctoberFan Favorite

Fuji is a honey-sweet, crunchy and dense apple grown at Volcan Valley Apple Farm in Julian, California. It ripens in September – October and is best for fresh eating, snacking, and salads. On our tasting scale it rates sweetness 5/5, tartness 1/5, crunch 5/5.

Harvest windowSeptember – October
Sweetness5 out of 5
Tartness1 out of 5
Crunch5 out of 5
AromaMild and clean; faintly floral; not strongly aromatic
Best forFresh eating, snacking, salads
Good for bakingYes
Kid appeal5 out of 5
Grown atVolcan Valley Apple Farm, 1284 Julian Orchards Drive, Julian, CA 92036

How Fuji compares to our other varieties

  • It is the least tart of the 7 varieties we grow, at 1/5.
  • It is among the firmest of the 7 varieties we grow (5/5), tied with Pippin.
  • It is the sweetest of the 7 varieties we grow, at 5/5.
  • In our picking order it follows Gala and comes in before Golden Delicious.
  • It is one of 5 varieties we recommend for baking, with Gravenstein, Jonathan, Golden Delicious and Pippin.

Flavor Profile

Sweetness
5/5
Tartness
1/5
Crunch
5/5
Aroma: Mild and clean; faintly floral; not strongly aromatic
★★★★★Kid-Approved
🥧 Best for Baking

Best For

Fresh eating, snacking, salads

History & Heritage

The Fuji's story begins in 1939 at Japan's Tōhoku Research Station. Researchers crossed Ralls Janet (an old American variety famously cultivated by Thomas Jefferson) with Red Delicious pollen.

The program was nearly derailed by World War II, but after the war seedling Ro-628 fruited for the first time in 1951. The original tree remarkably still stands in Morioka — every Fuji apple tree in the world traces back to grafts from this single parent.

Named "Fuji" not after Mount Fuji but after Fujisaki, the town where it was created, it was introduced to the United States in 1980. Today it is one of the most widely planted commercial apple varieties in the world.

Baking Notes

Excellent structure and sweetness management. The dense flesh holds shape exceptionally well. Because it is so sweet, recipes can reduce added sugar by 25-30%. Add a squeeze of lemon juice or blend with a more acidic variety for contrast.

Recipes with Fuji

Fuji Apple, White Cheddar & Prosciutto Flatbread

A thin-crust flatbread topped with white cheddar, prosciutto, thinly sliced Fuji apple, and honey with fresh thyme.

🧺 Pack for a Picnic
Prep: 15 minutesCook: 12 minutesServes: 4

Ingredients

  • 2 store-bought flatbreads or naan
  • 1½ cups shredded white cheddar
  • 3 oz prosciutto, torn into pieces
  • 2 Fuji apples, cored, very thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 4–5 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Cracked black pepper

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Brush flatbreads with olive oil; scatter white cheddar.
  2. Lay prosciutto over cheese, then arrange apple slices. Add thyme sprigs.
  3. Bake 10–12 minutes until cheese is bubbly. Drizzle with honey; add cracked pepper.
  4. Cool, cut into pieces, and wrap for transport.
Tip: How to pack this for a picnic: Wrap tightly in parchment, then foil. Transport flat in a cooler. Best served at room temperature.

Fuji Apple Cinnamon Pancakes with Maple Apple Compote

Fluffy weekend pancakes studded with diced Fuji apple and warm cinnamon, topped with a quick maple-apple compote.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Perfect for a Family Outing
Prep: 15 minutesCook: 20 minutesServes: 4

Ingredients

  • 2 cups pancake mix
  • 2 Fuji apples (one diced, one sliced for compote)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon (divided)
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • Pinch of nutmeg

Method

  1. Melt butter in a saucepan; add apple slices, maple syrup, ½ tsp cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cook 8–10 minutes until tender.
  2. Mix pancake batter with milk and egg. Fold in diced apple and remaining cinnamon.
  3. Cook pancakes on a greased griddle, about 2 minutes per side.
  4. Serve stacked high with warm apple compote.
Tip: Make it a family activity: Kids can help measure, stir, and assemble. It's a hands-on experience everyone will remember.

Fuji Apple Upside-Down Cake with Brown Sugar Caramel

A moist, buttery single-layer cake with caramelized Fuji apple slices on the bottom — stunning when inverted.

💑 Romantic Backcountry Excursion
Prep: 25 minutesCook: 40 minutesServes: 6-8

Ingredients

  • 2 large Fuji apples, peeled, cored, sliced into ½-inch half-moons
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter (divided)
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1½ tsp baking powder
  • 3 eggs
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup melted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla, ½ tsp cinnamon

Method

  1. Melt butter with brown sugar and honey in a 9-inch round cake pan. Arrange apple slices in a tight pinwheel pattern.
  2. Whisk eggs and sugar until pale. Fold in melted butter, vanilla, and cinnamon. Fold in flour and baking powder.
  3. Pour batter over apple slices. Bake at 350°F for 35–40 minutes.
  4. Cool 10 minutes. Invert onto a serving plate.
Tip: Setting the scene: Pack a blanket, two real plates (not paper), and a bottle of cider or wine. The effort shows.

Common questions about Fuji apples

When are Fuji apples ready to pick at Volcan Valley?

Fuji ripens in September – October. Exact timing shifts a week or two each year with the weather, so check the harvest schedule before you drive up.

What do Fuji apples taste like?

Fuji is honey-sweet, crunchy and dense. On our scale it rates sweetness 5/5, tartness 1/5, crunch 5/5. Aroma: Mild and clean; faintly floral; not strongly aromatic.

What are Fuji apples best for?

Best for fresh eating, snacking, and salads.

Are Fuji apples good for baking?

Yes — it is one of the varieties we recommend for baking. Excellent structure and sweetness management. The dense flesh holds shape exceptionally well. Because it is so sweet, recipes can reduce added sugar by 25-30%. Add a squeeze of lemon juice or blend with a more acidic variety for contrast.

Do kids like Fuji apples?

Yes — we rate Fuji 5/5 for kid appeal, so it is an easy one for younger pickers.

The other varieties we grow

See all seven varieties · Plan your visit