Hunt Russet

Medium-sized, large for a russet, this apple has a rough golden jacket over bright green peel. Some blushed stripes peep though at intervals, and a small patch of dull red blush is mostly russet free.

Lenticels are also full of russet and really only noticeable in the blush, though they do bulge out slightly into small tactile bumps.

Foolishly I held on to this one a few weeks longer than I needed and there's a bit of give to it when I squeeze, but russets can hold up marvelously and it is only November 12.

Hunt's texture is yielding but still good, fine-grained flesh shot with green highlights. Not super juicy but full of sugary flavor enlivened by some sprightly tartness. The usual russet flavors of pear and cane sugar are well presented, and also a hint of lemonade, a nice touch.

These flavors leave behind a very pleasant persistent aftertaste.

The Hunt Russet is named for Hunt Farm in Concord, Massachusetts, where it originated in the 1750s (though Beech notes at least one earlier claim). Since that town is just is about a dozen miles from here I am naturally curious to discover the erstwhile farm's location.

I was prepared to visit the historical collection at Concord's wonderful Free Public Library, but it seems that the fame of this farm has endured online, and largely because of its association with the apple.

John Moore, in his "Native Seedling Fruits" read to the February 1875 meeting of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and reproduced in many horticultural journals, tells this tale:

The Hunt Russet apple was cultivated about Concord, Mass., more than any other apple, until the introduction of the Baldwin. It is now more sought for than that apple, for consumers have found out its good character, it being much better in quality as a cooking apple, better for the table, and better for keeping than the Baldwin.

From all the traditions, which seem to be well founded, this apple originated on the old Hunt farm, in Concord, Mass. This farm is located one mile north of the village, on the south side of "Punkatasset" hill, overlooking the old North Bridge of Revolutionary fame....

That places the old orchard next to the present-day Hutchins Farm, which is on the south side of the same hill a bit further from town.

Based on various accounts of this apple as a great keeper and a late ripener, I'm guessing that my sample may have been picked a little early. But still a very pleasant variety, which ought to be more widely grown.

Other names for this variety include Golden Russet of Massachusetts, Golden Russet of New England, American Golden Russet of New England, and Fay's Russet. The true Golden Russet, though, is not Hunt despite some like tastes and a russet jacket of similar hue.