Empire ripens in mid-September in Missouri.  It is a medium-sized, dark red- colored fruit that naturally produces wax on the apple surface. This whitish coating of wax helps the apple retain its firm texture and protects it from shriveling. The flesh is creamy white and juicy. It is a good fresh dessert apple and can be blended into cider. Empire is a McIntosh x Red Delicious cross developed by the New York Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY and introduced in 1966.