Origin: in Excelsior, Minn., by the Univ. of Minnesota Fruit Breeding Farm. Introd. in 1950. Malinda o.p.; seed collected in 1907; selected in 1927; tested as Minn. 978. Tree: bears annually; vigorous; hardy; susceptible to cedar rust, moderately resistant to fire blight and apple scab diseases. Fruit: size medium; oblate to roundish oblate; skin attractive bright, medium dark red, obscurely striped, medium tender; stem short, medium thick; flesh creamy yellow, sometimes slightly tinged red, texture fine, juicy, medium tender, mildly acid changing to subacid in cold storage; quality very good for sauce and pies, good for dessert; stores well to midDecember or later; no preharvest drop; Wealthy type; does not require thinning; nonclustering fruiting habit.