Which university developed the Honeycrisp apple variety?

The university that developed the Honeycrisp apple variety was the University of Minnesota.

Honeycrisp was developed at the university’s Horticultural Research Center in Chaska, Minnesota. Breeders initially designated it MN1711 in 1974. Although the variety was nearly discarded during evaluation, its unusually crisp texture, juicy flesh, and balance of sweetness and tartness eventually made it a major commercial success.

The apple was patented in 1988 and released in 1991. Early records listed its parents as Macoun and Honeygold, but later genetic fingerprinting showed that those labels were incorrect. Modern research identifies Honeycrisp as a cross involving Keepsake and the unreleased University of Minnesota selection MN1627.

Honeycrisp is prized mainly for eating fresh, though it also works in baking and applesauce. Its texture is linked to relatively large cells that rupture when bitten, producing a notably juicy crunch. The variety also influenced later breeding programs, contributing to newer apples such as SweeTango. Washington State University and Cornell University developed other important apple varieties, but neither developed Honeycrisp.