Cameron Select Honeycrisp (DR19c cultivar)

Cameron Select Honeycrisp (DR19c cultivar) is a historical, naturally occurring whole-tree sport mutation discovered in 1991 by nurseryman Todd Cameron in an orchard block in Benzonia, Michigan. It is widely recognized as the very first patented sport of Honeycrisp. Requiring 135 to 140 days after full bloom to mature, it ripens concurrently with the standard parent variety during the cool nights of mid-September, which successfully locks in high malic acid levels to retain the classic, sharply complex sweet-tart snap and the iconic, large-celled explosive crunch. Growers historically chose Cameron Select over the original clone because it resolved the parent's notorious coloring struggles, establishing a much more uniform, bright red blush over a soft yellow background. It is chosen over modern, high-density coloring clones like Royal Red by growers who prefer a classic, vibrant bright red finish rather than an overly dark, purplish crimson. This balanced color development yields an efficient pack-out while lowering orchard labor through fewer selective picking passes. Entering storage with stable cell structure, Cameron Select boasts excellent long-term keeping quality, lasting 6 to 7 months in standard cold storage at 38°F (3.3°C) and up to 10 months in Controlled Atmosphere (CA) rooms, requiring the customary five-to-seven-day post-harvest conditioning step at 50°F (10°C) to completely insulate the fruit from chilling injury.