This is the Univ of Minn breeding program. But most of the fruit breeding programs are doing the same thing. Or perhaps I should say that the breeders are looking at many new ways to maximize the return to their program. In the past they have released the material and recieved at most $1 a tree in royalty. Now they are looking at charging much more and licensing the material to a small group that hopefully can grow high quality, not overproduce, and at least maintain control. In some cases the breeders even get a share of the crop revenue. I'm just hoping their will be a place for the home gardener and the small grower who sells directly to the consumer. Right now there are apple varieties in the large stores that I'd have no hope of getting ahold of a tree. And while some people may like the heirloom varieties, most of the best varieties like Fuji, Gala, Pink Lady, and Honeycrisp are recently bred items. The new varieties of most major fruits are better than the old, at least in my experience. The Fruitnut

If it's CAR, as it does seem, there's nothing you can do now. And there isn't much to be worried about with those few spots. Just be sure to spray them in the spring when the galls are swelling on the junipers.

In my experience, Honeycrisp is not exceptionally easy or difficult to grow, just an average apple as far as getting it established. The apples themselves are fussy, though. Apples on young trees can get rot where apples rot and fall off trees before they get ripe. Commercial growers will put down lots of calcium sprays to prevent this. Once trees mature this is less of a problem. When I graft it on mature trees it also is not a problem. If weather is too warm here in southern NY at time the apples ripen they tend to fall off the tree early and don't develop a rich flavor- just bland things with some nice texture. The tree is moderately vigorous and fruits pretty early. These folks with bad experiences with it probably are not suffering from the variety as much as the spot, IMO, but I can only guess and go by how it performs here. I've planted it at many sites in a variety of soils. It gets much less rot, I think, in lighter, well drained soils. it would not be my pick as a first apple, but then, I don't find it to be all that, as many people do. Great texture, juiciness, and a nice sugar, acid balance only gets an apple so far with most folks who make a religion of their fruit. Where is the distinctive flavor in this apple?

Here in middle Tennessee, I would categorize it as "highly" susceptible. It does fine when sprayed, but left untreated the leaves eventually become nearly completely covered. I'd say about the same as Gold Rush, which I'd also consider as highly susceptible - at least in my climate. I have another variety called "Gold Star", that even when treated still got a moderate amount of CAR. Would hate to see what it looks like untreated.