This tree is a grower's dream. It is scab immune, cedar-apple rust immune, and highly resistant (perhaps immune) to fireblight. It is also very vigorous, precocious, and reliably annual.

The fruit is small-medium, heavily russeted over a greenish background with some blushing. The flesh is crisp and white with a balanced sweetness, yielding a juice high in both sugar (17.5-19 Brix) and tannins. Franklin is receiving praise from growers and brewers throughout the cider world.

Bill Mayo found this tree growing as a chance seedling on his small farm in Franklin, Vermont in 2008.  On discovering that the juice produced an excellent sweet cider, he sent samples of the fruit to hard cider makers. One of the recipients, Terrence Bradshaw, performed an analysis of the juice and classed it as bittersharp. He was very impressed by its composition, comparing it to Kingston Black, one of the most beloved traditional cider varieties. It was released commercially in 2017.