Here in Napa at our suburban farm we grow apple trees. We have new varieties, common varieties and heirloom varieties. One of the oldest is probably Ashmead's Kernal Apple from 1700. I'm sure it never won a beautiful fruit award but it is a high scorer in taste tests. Click to the apple page on the website to see our list including Gravenstein 1669, Waltana 1910, Golden Russet 1845, Bramley's Seedling1813, Belle de Boskoop 1856, Northern Spy 1800. It is no wonder that the heirlooms have been preserved when you taste them. Worth growing because they taste great.