The 'Red Delicious' is a clone of apple cultigen, now comprising more than 50 cultivars, recognized in Madison County, Iowa, United States, in 1880. As new cultivars with improved color and earlier harvestability have replaced the original cultivar in commercial orchards, the taste and texture of the harvested commodity have deteriorated, and many customers have begun to reject the 'Red Delicious' at the food market. The skin is thick and bitter and has to be chewed vigorously. Delicious retains its cheerful good looks long after its flavor has departed.