Apples in fruit bin. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples. Different cultivars are available for temperate and subtropical climates. Reputedly the worlds biggest collection of apple cultivars is housed at the National Fruit Collection in England. Most of these cultivars are bred for eating fresh (dessert apples), though some are cultivated specifically for cooking (cooking apples) or producing cider. Cider apples are typically too tart and astringent to eat fresh, but they give the beverage a rich flavour that dessert apples cannot.