Once upon a time in 1880, a humble orchard in Iowa produced an apple that was the epitome of sweetness-a round, blushed yellow fruit so delightful it could make even the crankiest old farmer crack a smile. Fast forward to today, and the Red Delicious apple has evolved from its original “apple of the gods” status into a fruit that’s more about looks than taste. Until 2018, the Red Delicious was the reigning champ of apple production in the U.S., but even the most popular apples can’t stay on top forever.