It started with a chance seedling…

The Cameo variety first caught the attention of apple grower Darrel Caudle, near Wenatchee, Wash. Darrel thought he had planted a Red Delicious tree, but as the tree grew, the apples were different from all the others in his orchard. One taste of the red-and-cream-striped fruit and Darrel knew he had found something special.

The tree is what is called a “chance seedling” meaning it grew unaided from a seed that carried a unique combination of genes from unknown parents. Over the next few years, Darrel patented the tree and registered a trademark for the revolutionary new variety.

Today, all Cameo trees are descended from Darrel’s first chance seedling which is still producing fruit in his hillside orchard. This family of trees is an industry celebrity, drawing apple aficionados, growers and nurserymen from all over the world who come to see the very first Cameo planting that started a new variety.

Cameo has since been planted in volume and is an All-American favorite. The variety is widely heralded as the most flavorful, crispy, and juicy apple anywhere. Cameo also has the distinction of being the first variety originating from the United States in years.