As regional apple varieties begin to disappear from store shelves, the Lady Alice apple is set to arrive in February with peak flavor and texture. It will be available through May — or while supplies last — at many major and independent grocery retailers.

Discovered as a chance seedling in the orchards of eastern Washington, production of this apple has increased as its appeal with consumers has taken off.

"It has been incredible to witness the market's reception of Lady Alice and the resulting growth," Mark Zirkle, president of Rainier Fruit Co. and primary grower of Lady Alice, said in a press release. "We have worked diligently over the past several years to better understand the unique characteristics of this apple — from growing and packing to storing and shipping. Each year's crop is an  improvement from the last, and this is substantiated by the increasing demand."

Lady Alice was discovered quite by chance on a farm near Gleed, WA, in 1978 when a grower accidentally cut an apple tree with his farm equipment. A chance seedling grew from the base, and over the next 25 years steps were taken to preserve and propagate the distinctive characteristics of the Lady Alice. The "Lady Alice" brand apple is named after Alice Zirkle, the co-founder of Rainier Fruit Co. in honor of her memory.

Like all varieties, these heirloom-like apples are harvested in the fall, but the difference is that the Lady Alice benefits from being stored for several months while the flavors continue to develop. It is characterized by its red-striped skin with a yellow background and sweet, crisp flesh that has a hint of tartness.

The versatile Lady Alice apple is an excellent choice for snacking, baking and cooking. Its distinctively sturdy flesh helps the apple retain its texture when heated at high temperatures. Just like fresh cherries, the Lady Alice apple has a short season, resulting in limited supply.