At Chelan Ranch, the first apples of the season always feel like a celebration. This year, that celebration begins with SweeTango®. In just three weeks, we’ll start harvesting certified organic SweeTango apples from our cool, high-elevation orchards in North Central Washington.

What Makes SweeTango So Special?

A lot.

A Crunch Above the Rest

SweeTango isn’t your average apple. It once won a national contest for the loudest crunch. One bite and you’ll hear why. The thin skin cracks open to reveal juicy, crisp flesh with a perfect sweet-tart balance. It’s refreshing, bright, and bold — an apple that practically sings.

A Club Variety with a Purpose

SweeTango is a club variety. That means only select growers and distributors can grow and sell it under the brand name. We’re proud to be part of that group. To grow this apple, we paid a royalty based on the number of acres we planted. On the West Coast, Stemilt Growers manages the club through a network called The Next Best Thing — a fitting name.

This apple actually has two names. Its variety name is Minneiska, but only the highest-quality fruit gets sold as SweeTango®. These apples must meet strict standards, including deep red color and excellent flavor. If sold outside the club — at a farm stand, for example — they must be labeled Minneiska.

That red color does more than make the fruit beautiful. It boosts sweetness and helps prevent bruising. That matters a lot in organic farming, where gentle handling and natural methods are a must.

Our high mountain canyons are ideal for this Minnesota-bred apple. The cool nights and sunny days bring out the signature color, crunch, and flavor.

Born from Legendary Roots

The University of Minnesota developed SweeTango by crossing two standout apples — Honeycrisp and Zestar®. Honeycrisp brings sweetness and snap. Zestar® adds a tangy brightness. Together, they give SweeTango® its lively, mouthwatering flavor. This cold-hardy parentage makes it a perfect fit for our canyon orchards.

Why We Grow It

We grow SweeTango because it checks all the boxes. It tastes amazing. It ripens early, kicking off our apple season. And it has a strong structure and natural disease resistance, which makes it ideal for organic growing. We don’t have to compromise on taste or texture.

At Chelan Ranch, we believe healthy soil grows good food. With SweeTango, you can taste the difference.

SweeTango®: Coming Soon!

We’ll start harvesting in about three weeks. Stay tuned for updates on farm stand hours, fresh apple availability, and online ordering. Whether you visit Chelan Ranch in person or order apples shipped to your door, we’re excited to share this crisp, crunchy, organic start to fall with you.