Fruit

SWAAR originated with Dutch settlers in the Hudson River Valley near Esopus, New York, before 1770.  Medium in size and truncate in shape, the pale greenish gold skin is covered with small patches of netted russet and the entire surface is covered with prominent russet dots.  The skin is rough and tough and becomes greasy when stored. The creamy white flesh in fine-textured with a sweet and aromatic flavor and the flavor will mellow and improve when it is stored until soft and slightly roughened.  In addition, if sliced before eating, the bruising of the flesh seems to enhance the flavor. The tree matures medium in size with dropping branches and grows best in a deep rich sandy loam.  It is shy bearing in some soils with a tendency to biennial bearing and is subject to bitter rot.  Swaar is very high in sugar content and will hang on the tree after all the leaves have fallen, which makes it particularly useful for winter wildlife food.  The name Swaar means "heavy apple" in Low Dutch. It ripens in October.