The beloved Granny Smith apple!

The Granny Smith apple, a favourite tart green variety, originated in Eastwood, NSW in 1868, when Maria Ann Smith discovered a chance seedling growing from discarded crab apple remains.

Maria Ann Smith, who emigrated to Australia from England in 1838, discovered the seedling while cooking with French crab apples and discarding the remains in her orchard.

The seedling grew from the discarded crab apple remains, eventually producing the distinctive Granny Smith apple.  The apple is named after Maria Ann Smith, who was known as "Granny" Smith in her later years.

The Granny Smith apple became known for its versatility, suitable for both cooking and eating raw.

Granny Smith apples are propagated through clonal propagation, meaning new trees are grown from cuttings of a desirable tree, rather than from seeds. Now over 150 years later Mannus CC is honouring this discovery and winning awards in the process.

CSI has an operational orchard at Mannus Correctional Centre where people in custody are trained in orchard harvesting Granny Smith apples. 

In Australia, apples are graded based on factors like size, colour, shape, quality, and appearance.  In the first inspection of this year’s harvest, Mannus Orchard has achieved a class 1 rating for over 75% of the stock, and 22% achieving grade 2. 

In addition to this, Mannus Orchard winning a Best in Show accolade.  Competing against close to 100 orchards across the Batlow area, the team were awarded  ‘Tray of commercial packed apples’ at the recent Batlow Show 2025.

It’s been a hard two years of apple harvest thanks to several hailstorms.  The team have embraced a quality control approach, and the outcome is clear it has paid off.

Congratulations to the CSI Overseers and the people in custody in the amazing achievement.