Students in the residence hall dining centers can now help themselves to an ISU original — the Chieftain apple.

The Chieftain apples that have replaced the Red Delicious apples used last year in the university’s dining halls, C-Stores and cafes were first developed at Iowa State.

The apples are a crossbreed of Red Delicious and Jonathan apples. The hybrid was first created by ISU horticulture professor Spencer Beach in 1917. The apples were released for public consumption in the early 1960s, said Paul Domoto, professor of horticulture.

Jamie Lenz, assistant manager of food stores, said this was the first time they were approached by the Horticulture Department about the apples, despite the apples’ long existence at Iowa State.

“We weren’t aware there were enough,” he said.

Lenz said he was impressed with the “good flavor and texture” of the apples, and said the added history would give them extra appeal to the students.

Domoto said the Chieftain apples combine the shelf life and color appeal of the Red Delicious apples and the taste and baking qualities of the Jonathan apples.

The hybrid adds a “sprightly” character to the apples, and the flavor is a large difference between the previously used apples, he said.

“You have to taste it to appreciate it,” Domoto said.

Lenz said students need to try the apples if they haven’t already.

Several students at Iowa State have noticed the difference.

“Red Delicious are gross,” said Hannah Bergstrom, senior in English. “Chieftain apples are much better.”

Steven Niederhauser, freshman in engineering, said he eats one or two of the apples a day.

Lenz said the students are eating more of the apples than originally projected and the supply may run out by the end of the semester.

How long the supply lasts depends on how much is left in winter storage from local vendors.

However, he said there are plans to use them in the dining services from now on.

“We’ll use them as long as they have them,” Lenz said.