17,000 apple varieties were once widespread across the US, beginning in the 1600's. Today we are supposed to be delighted with the Delicious apples, sweet, often mushy, extremely ordinary.
Once orchardists went with one or two varieties, instead of the many that were available, they were struck with all the ills that come to monoculture.
According to this report from NPR, growers in Colorado and elsewhere are trying to save the old, now rare varieties of apple that once thrived in Colorado, and New York State, among many other places.