The tree is vigorous, easy to grow, and productive. It is resistant to fireblight and powdery mildew, and highly resistant to scab and cedar-apple rust. It is, basically, the perfect apple for the first-time grower and it is the backbone of any organic orchard. Heavy fruit sets will require thinning to maintain quality. This tree is a triploid and it will need to be grown with two diploid partners for pollination.

The apple is a large McIntosh-style fruit (its mother, Macoun, is a McIntosh progeny), with a red blush covering nearly all of the yellow background. Ripening midseason, it is sweet-tart, aromatic, crisp, and juicy–perfect for fresh eating or for cider blends (°Brix 12). The harvest window is narrow–ripe fruit will lose texture and flavor rapidly if left on the tree–and multiple pickings are recommended. Liberty will store for up to two months, and the flavor will continue to develop over the first month if the fruit has been picked early enough. This is one of the best disease-resistant varieties available.

Liberty is a cross of Macoun and Purdue 54-12, bred for disease resistance at the New York Agricultural Station in Geneva, and first released to the public in 1972. The name "Liberty" was chosen to denote freedom from disease.