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Cultivar · Apple cultivar

Fuji

Fuji is a very sweet, dense, late-maturing dessert apple bred in Japan from a cross of Ralls Janet and Red Delicious and introduced to market in 1962. It is prized for high sugar, crisp flesh, and long storage life.

Dated referenceLast reviewed: 2026-07-12Updated: 2026-07-12
Illustrative diagram · AgricultureID (original)

Record

Cultivar / variety
Variety of
Apple
Botanical taxon
Malus domestica
Type
Cultivar (clonal)
Breeding method
Cross-breeding (controlled hybridization)
Origin
Fujisaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Released
1962
Breeder / institution
Tohoku Research Station (Fujisaki, Japan)
Registry status
Historical
Registries
Adaptation
A late-maturing cultivar that generally requires a long growing season to develop its characteristic high sugar content.
Intended use
Fresh eating (dessert)

Registry listing or variety protection is jurisdiction- and date-specific and does not by itself indicate current commercial availability, universal cultivation approval, patent status, or a recommendation.

Fuji is a dessert apple developed in Japan at the Tohoku Research Station (a national fruit-tree research facility) in Fujisaki, Aomori Prefecture, from a cross between the American cultivars Ralls Janet and Red Delicious. Selection began in the late 1930s and the cultivar was introduced to market in 1962, taking its name from the town of Fujisaki.

It is known for its notably high sugar content, dense and crisp flesh, and excellent keeping quality. Fuji became extremely popular in Japan and later worldwide, and it is among the most-produced apples globally. As with other apples, it is maintained clonally by grafting, and numerous colour sports have been selected.

Origin and history

Fuji was bred at the Tohoku Research Station in Fujisaki, Aomori Prefecture, in northern Japan, under the national agricultural research system. The parents were Ralls Janet (also written Rawls Janet) and Red Delicious. After breeding work beginning in the late 1930s and a long selection process, the cultivar was released to market in 1962.

Fuji became the leading apple in Japan and expanded widely into China, the United States, and other regions. Its high sugar, crisp texture, and long storage life suited both domestic markets and international trade. Redder-colouring sports have since been selected and grown under various names.

Fruit and eating quality

  • Skin pink-red striped or blushed over a yellow-green ground
  • Flesh very dense, crisp, and juicy
  • Flavour very sweet with low acidity and a mild aroma
  • Stores exceptionally well, retaining crispness for long periods when cool

Cultivation notes

Fuji is a late-maturing cultivar that generally needs a long growing season to develop its characteristic high sugar content. Its exact ripening, colour development, and sugar accumulation depend on climate, rootstock, crop load, and harvest timing, and are therefore highly region-specific.

Relationships

Evidence-backed connections in the knowledge graph.

Adapted to climate

Adapted to soil

Scope & limitations

Geographic scope: Global overview of a major commercial cultivar and its colour sports. Sugar development, colour, and storage depend on region, rootstock, and season.

  • Sugar accumulation and colour development depend strongly on climate, crop load, and harvest timing, so eating quality varies between growing regions.
  • Much commercial Fuji consists of colour sports that differ in appearance; a single description generalizes across them.
  • Rootstock, orchard management, and post-harvest handling — not covered here — strongly influence storage outcomes.

Sources

This article draws on the following authoritative sources. See our sources & methodology for how they are selected.

  1. [1]GRIN-Global / National Plant Germplasm System (opens in a new tab)

    USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

    Authoritative

    Cited for: Cultivar/germplasm record and placement within Malus domestica

    Type:
    Official registry
    Jurisdiction:
    United States / Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  2. [2]GBIF — Global Biodiversity Information Facility (opens in a new tab)

    Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

    High

    Cited for: Taxonomy of the parent species Malus domestica

    Type:
    Reference database
    Jurisdiction:
    Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  3. [3]NCBI Taxonomy (opens in a new tab)

    U.S. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)

    High

    Cited for: Scientific name and classification of Malus domestica

    Type:
    Reference database
    Jurisdiction:
    Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12

Related topics

Crops