Sweet · Mild · Snackable
The Gala was born from J.H. Kidd's vision in New Zealand's Wairarapa region. He crossed Kidd's Orange Red with Golden Delicious in the 1930s, and the seedling designated "D8" was selected in 1939.
After Kidd's death in 1945, the seedlings were evaluated against 900 other candidates and eventually named "Gala" by Don McKenzie in 1965. The most charming chapter belongs to a natural mutation discovered in 1969 — when Queen Elizabeth II was presented with these redder apples during a New Zealand visit, the growers renamed the sport "Royal Gala" in her honor.
Today Gala is the most widely planted apple variety in the United States.
Moderate — best combined with tarter, firmer apples. Gala holds its shape reasonably well in baking, but its low acidity can make pies one-dimensional. The ideal approach is a 50/50 blend with a tart variety like Jonathan or Gravenstein.
