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In the U.S., "cider" is sweet cider; fermented cider is called hard cider. |
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Wickson vs. King David Smackdown
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
So long, and thanks for all the fruit
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Kimball Farm slings the fruit in Davis Square earlier today in November's fading light. |
In Davis Square, two growers had but five apple varieties to rub between them: Jonagold, Cortland, Brock, McIntosh, Empire, and Fuji.
Have a great winter! Farmers market resumes in June.
Labels:
commentary,
Fall,
market report,
markets,
November
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Rusty Sweet
A bin of Rusty Sweet looks so much like a mass of Golden Delicious that I asked the seller if these were only a sport or variant of that variety.

No, she told me, they are something else.
This large elongated yellow apple, on closer inspection, is blockier and less conical than Golden D, though there is some taper. A little ribbing, too.
A small faint blush washes orange along with a few saturated red dots like spatters of paint. Lenticels are small and green, and the peel is satiny rather than glossy.
In hand Rusty is nice and solid with a sweet cider aroma. Its calyx is closed.

No, she told me, they are something else.
This large elongated yellow apple, on closer inspection, is blockier and less conical than Golden D, though there is some taper. A little ribbing, too.
A small faint blush washes orange along with a few saturated red dots like spatters of paint. Lenticels are small and green, and the peel is satiny rather than glossy.
In hand Rusty is nice and solid with a sweet cider aroma. Its calyx is closed.
Labels:
apple review,
Fall,
October,
Rusty Sweet
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Friday, November 16, 2012
Sweetango (Sweet Tango, Minneiska) **

This medium-sized apple is conical and slightly ribbed. The blush can be stunning, red saturated in streaks and tinged with orange. On some samples this darkens to whole solid sections.
Large brown lenticels are prominent on the glossy peel. The apple is firm to the squeeze and has a sweet cider-laced aroma.
What does it do in your mouth?
Labels:
**,
apple review,
Fall,
Minneiska,
October,
September,
Sweet Tango,
Sweetango
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Pound Sweet (Pumpkin Sweet)
Cooking apples, like Pound Sweet, are not necessarily good to eat. If so, that does not make them bad cooking apples.
Today's is a hefty one, though I can't vouch for its exact weight, name notwithstanding.
I notice right away its extreme ribbing, which remind me of the excellent culinary variety, Calville Blanc d'Hiver.
Labels:
Fall,
October,
Pound Sweet,
Pumpkin Sweet
Monday, November 12, 2012
No more apples this year
Saturday, November 10, 2012
King David **

The blush runs from a streaky red to a lustrous dark crimson. Unlike some deeply colored apples, the red of this blush has no purple tint.
The unblushed color, visible only in one small patch, is yellow tinted green. Small light lenticels are nearly impossible to see in the darker blush.
King David is solid in hand with a faint sweet cider aroma.
Labels:
**,
apple review,
Fall,
King David,
October
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Nonpareil

These are small to medium with a faint blush, streaky pink over a muted chartreuse, and varying amounts of russet.
The net effect is layered and complex.
Though squat these are also a little conical. There's no ribbing to speak of; okay maybe a hint of some.
Labels:
apple review,
Fall,
Nonpariel,
October,
September
Monday, November 5, 2012
Red Apple Farm

Possibly, it's all from one tree.
Red Apple's home base, just off Route 2 in rural Phillipston, Massachusetts (map), is even better.
Like many orchards, Red Apple adds a lot of value for family visitors. Attractions include hay rides, barbecue, excellent cider donuts, cider slushies, a farm stand stocked with all sorts of apple and maple goodies, walking trails, and seasonal events.
Their assortment of fruit is really impressive, and they boast an apple tree that bears 108 different apple varieties courtesy of some crafty grafting.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Fireside *

I have two, round and slightly, but noticibly, ribbed. One is a little connical. Both have swaths and scars of russet, and there is a little flyspeck, visible at right on today's photo (click for close-up).
This apple is fresh from the orchard and, unbroken, has a sweet fragrance tinged with cider and banana.
Labels:
*,
apple review,
Fall,
Fireside,
October
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Market contraction
Many area farmers markets close for the year in the week leading up to Halloween.
Labels:
commentary,
Fall,
market report,
markets,
October
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