Baby gags on solids

My son is almost 8 months and has been eating solids since 4 months old. He loved bananas so much in the beginning and now he hates them. He will literally gag. If they’re mixed with other foods but really puréed he will eat them. Now I fed him some apple cinnamon oatmeal it was in a baby container and they have chunks of apple in it. He will only gag on the bites with chunks in it. I can’t do baby led weaning with him gagging so much he will just throw the food on the ground or gag on it. I am afraid of him choking too. I don’t want him eating puréed food until he’s 1. I want him to start transitioning to more solid foods but only if he’s ready. Could he just be a picky eater? I was and still am a huge texture person. I don’t like certain things just because of the texture. Like lettuce or onions.