| Malus domestica 'Anna' | |
| Hybrid: | 'Golden Delicious' |
| Cultivar: | 'Anna' |
| Origin: | , Ein Shemer, 1959 |
Anna apple is a dual purpose cultivar of domesticated apple that is very early ripening and does well in warm climates.[1]
Anna was bred by Abba Stein at the Ein Shemer kibbutz in Israel, in order to achieve a Golden Delicious-like apple, that can be cultivated in nearly tropical areas. A regular apple needs between 500 - 1000 hours of chilling[2] (aka chill units[3]) in order to get in blossom, but Anna flourishes even with less than 300 hours, so it can be grown in warm climates.[1] It is recommended for USDA hardiness zones 5–9,[4] or rather 6–9.
Anna was introduced in 1959,[1] and is the most popular apple cultivar in Florida.[5]
Anna's skin color is very much like its Golden Delicious parentage, red flushed (by fifty percent[5]) over green[1] or greenish-yellow.[6] It is excellent for fresh eating and keeps shape during cooking. It is self-sterile, and usually cultivated side by side with the Dorsett Golden cultivar[1] or by Ein Shemer,[6] all of which can be grown in warm climates and provide cross pollination for each other.[5]
Anna flowers and harvests at a very early season, gives a heavy crop, and keeps fresh 2–3 weeks.[1]