Tuesday, December 30, 2014
York (York Imperial) *
This drunkenly diagonal apple is large and distinctly ribbed, with an attractive red-orange blush streaky over dull green. Look closely to see regular tan spots.
After a month or two of storage, these bear a sweet aroma. The peel is a bit waxy.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Watercore
![]() |
Watercore in a Lady Apple. Click for close-up. |
You'd think juiciness would be a straightforward trait specific to each apple variety.
Coarse-grained apples, with large cells, hold more juice than fine-graned, smaller-cell breeds. Watermelon vs potato.
Sometimes however things get a little haywire and the tree forces water, tree-sap really, into the apple so fast that some of it ends up between the cells.
Labels:
commentary,
nomenclature,
pomiculture,
watercore
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Apples on the Web: New England Apples
Where better to locate a regional focus on apples than my own New England? (Pardon my parochialism!)
And who better to write on that topic than the former director of the New England Apple Grower's Association (and its current senior writer), Russell Powell?
Powell, who has penned two books about apples, publishes and writes New England Apples.
It's an uncluttered blog that also features apple photos (and writing) by Bar Lois Weeks, the Association's current Executive Director.
These columns blend commentary, recipes, history, and description with an emphasis on the first of these.
![]() |
Photo: NASA |
Powell, who has penned two books about apples, publishes and writes New England Apples.
It's an uncluttered blog that also features apple photos (and writing) by Bar Lois Weeks, the Association's current Executive Director.
These columns blend commentary, recipes, history, and description with an emphasis on the first of these.
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Aurora vs. Mutsu smackdown
![]() |
Aurora Golden Gala (R) meets a yellow late-season Mutsu. (Mutsu is often sold green.) |
But I ran into some surprises at first bite.
Labels:
Aurora,
Aurora Golden Gala,
commentary,
comparisons,
Crispin,
Mutsu
Monday, December 1, 2014
Sweet Winter Pennock **

The cheerful orange-red blush runs from streaky to saturated but covers most of a subdued yellow-green.
Russet-colored lenticels are prominent in the blush, and there's a copper-and-green russet at the crown and in crackles down the side.
Labels:
**,
apple review,
Fall,
October,
Sweet Winter Pennock
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
The wet and chilly end of things
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Barnack Beauty *
These run medium to large, round, unribbed, and with a modest conical taper. They are just a little flattened at the poles.
The stem well is shallow and the larger apple has a "Roman nose," a fold that juts like a little causeway into the moat around the stem.
There manages to be a tiny crown of russet about the top too, brown copper.
The orange-red blush is streaky and subdued, but covers the similarly subdued green peel nearly everywhere to some extent. Barnack has many small light lenticels that are not at all obvious against this background.
In hand, the Beauty is a nice firm compact apple with a wide-open calyx and the faint scent of cut grass.
The stem well is shallow and the larger apple has a "Roman nose," a fold that juts like a little causeway into the moat around the stem.

The orange-red blush is streaky and subdued, but covers the similarly subdued green peel nearly everywhere to some extent. Barnack has many small light lenticels that are not at all obvious against this background.
In hand, the Beauty is a nice firm compact apple with a wide-open calyx and the faint scent of cut grass.
Labels:
*,
apple review,
Barnack Beauty,
Fall,
October
Saturday, November 22, 2014
How much is a story worth?
Stories have worth, of the "priceless" variety. But do they also have cash value?
I don't mean storytelling, which is a craft and an art that, thank goodness, people pay for. I mean the stories themselves.
This blog is largely about the stories that apples have, so the question interests me. And as it happens I have a story about that.
I don't mean storytelling, which is a craft and an art that, thank goodness, people pay for. I mean the stories themselves.
This blog is largely about the stories that apples have, so the question interests me. And as it happens I have a story about that.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Razor Russet
The russet that jackets this medium-sized classically shaped apple is fine-textured and a little translucent.
It coats every part of the apple with a thin golden mustard shell that has some olive-green highlights. Greenish lenticels are prominent and large.
The small blushed area is smooth and tinted orange and brown. There are a few faint longitudinal green stripes beneath the russet.
It coats every part of the apple with a thin golden mustard shell that has some olive-green highlights. Greenish lenticels are prominent and large.
The small blushed area is smooth and tinted orange and brown. There are a few faint longitudinal green stripes beneath the russet.
Labels:
apple review,
Fall,
October,
Razor Russet,
September
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Virginia Beauty *
Today's apple is a daughter of the South, but mine grew in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts.
Apples have their own territories, but I can only taste what I have.
Today that is two of these oblate, slightly conical apples grown far north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
A dull red blush covers about half the surface over spring green. Large light lenticels are striking, as is an iridescent coppery sheen reflecting from the peel's satiny finish.
Virginia has an open calyx, a thick stem, and no aroma.
Apples have their own territories, but I can only taste what I have.
Today that is two of these oblate, slightly conical apples grown far north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
A dull red blush covers about half the surface over spring green. Large light lenticels are striking, as is an iridescent coppery sheen reflecting from the peel's satiny finish.
Virginia has an open calyx, a thick stem, and no aroma.
Labels:
*,
apple review,
Fall,
October,
Virginia Beauty,
Zach's Red
Friday, November 14, 2014
Ramsdell Sweet
Running from medium to the smaller end of large, these classically shaped apples have a streaky red blush.
Save for a few dark stripes the blush comes off as more orange than red over the underlying yellow.
Many light lenticels further enliven this variegated exterior. There is almost no ribbing.
Ramsdell has a sweet cidery aroma and an open calyx. There's a bit of russet in the stem well, which is deep. The peel is moderately glossy, and there is a little give in the squeeze.
Save for a few dark stripes the blush comes off as more orange than red over the underlying yellow.
Many light lenticels further enliven this variegated exterior. There is almost no ribbing.
Ramsdell has a sweet cidery aroma and an open calyx. There's a bit of russet in the stem well, which is deep. The peel is moderately glossy, and there is a little give in the squeeze.
Labels:
apple review,
Fall,
October,
Ramsdell Sweet
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Aurora
Kind people have sent me apples before, but Aurora is my first from a commercial grower seeking greater exposure for a new variety. I am pleased to oblige.
Labels:
apple review,
Aurora,
Aurora Golden Gala,
Fall,
October,
September
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Eating October
When it comes to apples, is there any month like October?
I ate 62 apples last month, 23 different identifiable varieties and 2 apples I could not place.
They were great.
I've been tracking my apple consumption this year. Here's what the record shows for October.
I ate 62 apples last month, 23 different identifiable varieties and 2 apples I could not place.
They were great.
![]() |
October is apple month |
Labels:
commentary,
Fall,
October,
year of apples
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Winter is coming

The markets are still filled with fruit, and memories of harvest bounty linger.
But the trees are bare or nearly so. If you want local apples to eat in December it's time to start stocking up. Otherwise, it will be hit or miss at the supermarket until July.
Labels:
commentary,
Fall,
keepers,
November,
winter apples
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Spigold
![]() |
Spigold is great for eating and for pies |
Friday, October 31, 2014
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Have some (slightly) overripe apples
Today I've got two great apples, Macoun and Cox's Orange Pippin, that have probably been ripening on the tree too long.
I want to see what that is like.
![]() |
Both of these were picked late. L to R: Cox's Orange Pippin, Macoun. |
Labels:
commentary,
Cox's Orange Pippin,
Fall,
Macoun,
October
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Sun on sun
![]() |
The fading sun kisses a ripe rack of Suncrisp apples at Autumn Hills Orchard in Groton, Massachusetts, earlier today.
|
Labels:
commentary,
Fall,
October
Saturday, October 25, 2014
The hills of autumn
About an hour from Boston, not far south of the New Hampshire border, is a no-frills pick-your own apple orchard with hills, thrills, and hundreds of trees full of fruit. It's called Autumn Hills Orchard, in the town of Groton.
This is not a place for anything but fruit. You cannot, at least as of this writing, buy cider, donuts, kettle corn, or maple candy. There is no hay ride or corn maze. If the weather is bad, call first because they just might close up early.
This is not a place for anything but fruit. You cannot, at least as of this writing, buy cider, donuts, kettle corn, or maple candy. There is no hay ride or corn maze. If the weather is bad, call first because they just might close up early.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Mother (American Mother) *
Courtesy of a generous apple enthusiast, I have 2 medium-sized irregularly shaped apples that sport a streaky red blush over greenish yellow.
That makes for a lot of orange where the yellow bleeds through the thinnest part of the blush. That spot is also where the brown lenticels are the most prominent.
Mother's peel sports more satin than shine.
It's hard to say what shape these would be if pristine, but there seems to be a small amount of ribbing. The apple in my photo is the more elongated of the two.
Besides the odd bumps and indentations, and a few hard little scabby lumps, these apples show some signs of bugs. Have no fear, gentle reader: no extra protein in this review.
That makes for a lot of orange where the yellow bleeds through the thinnest part of the blush. That spot is also where the brown lenticels are the most prominent.
Mother's peel sports more satin than shine.
It's hard to say what shape these would be if pristine, but there seems to be a small amount of ribbing. The apple in my photo is the more elongated of the two.
Besides the odd bumps and indentations, and a few hard little scabby lumps, these apples show some signs of bugs. Have no fear, gentle reader: no extra protein in this review.
Labels:
*,
American Mother,
apple review,
Fall,
Mother,
September,
Summer
Monday, October 20, 2014
Fresh Empire
I treasure Empire in the spring, when it is a reliable echo of Fall's vinous apples.
But I rarely eat it during that harvest.
With a decidedly streaky blush, a bit of a smokey bloom, and a shape less conical than I have come to expect, these large apples look different enough from the supermarket version that I did not immediately recognize them hanging on the tree.
So I picked one and brought it home.
But I rarely eat it during that harvest.
With a decidedly streaky blush, a bit of a smokey bloom, and a shape less conical than I have come to expect, these large apples look different enough from the supermarket version that I did not immediately recognize them hanging on the tree.
So I picked one and brought it home.
Labels:
2nd bite,
commentary,
Empire,
Fall,
October
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Niagara (Niagara Mac)
Of all the "new" apples I got on a recent trip to New York City, Niagara may be the only one I haven't had before.
It's medium-sized, but there were larger ones available. I just didn't want to carry more than I had to.
For the most part Niagara resembles an oblate, ribbed McIntosh, with a streaky red blush over yellow green.
Light lenticels are quite large on parts of the apple, probably where growth has especially stretched the peel. That peel has a satin-gloss finish.
It's medium-sized, but there were larger ones available. I just didn't want to carry more than I had to.
For the most part Niagara resembles an oblate, ribbed McIntosh, with a streaky red blush over yellow green.
Light lenticels are quite large on parts of the apple, probably where growth has especially stretched the peel. That peel has a satin-gloss finish.
Labels:
apple review,
August,
Niagara,
September,
Summer
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
2014 harvest going, going....
Russell Powell of the New England Apple Association reports,
Update: Business Columnist Shirley Leung has the story in the October 8 Boston Globe.
The 2014 New England apple crop is decidedly uneven. Some orchards have plenty of fruit, some just miles away have been forced to close early after running out of fresh apples.
Update: Business Columnist Shirley Leung has the story in the October 8 Boston Globe.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Apples in disguise
I'm always hoping to find apples that are new to me, to taste and describe here.
This year I've walked many through the ritual of photographing and tasting, only to find that they are not new at all. Instead these apples were just sold under unfamiliar names.
A recent visit to the Big Apple included a pilgrimage to several farmers markets. New York City draws fruit from some fine orchards upstate and in New Jersey.
I returned with 4 varieties I hoped to add to my opinionated catalog. All but one, however, were retreads in disguise.
This year I've walked many through the ritual of photographing and tasting, only to find that they are not new at all. Instead these apples were just sold under unfamiliar names.
A recent visit to the Big Apple included a pilgrimage to several farmers markets. New York City draws fruit from some fine orchards upstate and in New Jersey.
I returned with 4 varieties I hoped to add to my opinionated catalog. All but one, however, were retreads in disguise.
Labels:
commentary,
Golden Supreme,
Niagara,
Paula Red,
sport
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Be still, my beating heart
A quest fullfilled: Cox's Orange Pippin.
Labels:
commentary,
Cox's Orange Pippin
Friday, October 3, 2014
Heritage applesauces
How could I not share this great photo from Toronto apple aficionado and tweeter extraordinaire Suzanne Long?
Applesauce colour nerdery : Gravenstein, Novamac, Snow (Fameuse), Wealthy, Ginger Gold pic.twitter.com/misv8vhxDF
— Suzanne Long (@suzannelong) October 3, 2014
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Crimson Crisp vs Jonathan
Today we pit Crimson Crisp, a modern breed from the Purdue Rutgers Indiana cooperative, against Jonathan, which is two hundred years old. Indeed Jonathan is Crimson Crisp's great grandfather.
That's only one sixteenth Jonathan, but it's enough to make me curious about these two varieties, which ripen close enough to permit a comparision.
![]() |
Crimson Crisp at left, Jonathan at right |
Labels:
commentary,
comparisons,
Crimson Crisp,
Fall,
Jonathan,
September
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Early Golden is Golden Supreme
This apple was a gift called "Early Golden." It is my ungrateful business here to look all apples in the mouth, gifts included. In this case it looks as though I found a slightly overripe (but not unpleasant!) Golden Supreme.
This medium-sized apple is a beautiful pure yellow flecked with dark gray lenticels, especially on the sunward side where a faint blush adds a subtle orange cast.
My Early Golden is classically shaped, both conical and oblate with modest ribbing. It is very firm in hand with a calyx that is mostly, but not completely, closed, and it smells faintly of cider and honey.
This medium-sized apple is a beautiful pure yellow flecked with dark gray lenticels, especially on the sunward side where a faint blush adds a subtle orange cast.
My Early Golden is classically shaped, both conical and oblate with modest ribbing. It is very firm in hand with a calyx that is mostly, but not completely, closed, and it smells faintly of cider and honey.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Dolgo
These intense dark red spheres, decorated with tiny light lenticels, have a marvelous gem-like quality. Dolgo is small, though large for a crab apple.
They are moderately ribbed and slightly elongated, and have trouble standing upright because their tight-as-a-drum calyxes are outies.
The backs of these blush lighter and less saturated, and bear many more lenticels, close-spaced.
Dolgo is rock hard and, unbroken, has the faint aroma of cider with some lively spice notes.
The grower flagged these as "cider apples," as in hard cider; these are notoriously inedible. So, spitter?
They are moderately ribbed and slightly elongated, and have trouble standing upright because their tight-as-a-drum calyxes are outies.
The backs of these blush lighter and less saturated, and bear many more lenticels, close-spaced.
Dolgo is rock hard and, unbroken, has the faint aroma of cider with some lively spice notes.
The grower flagged these as "cider apples," as in hard cider; these are notoriously inedible. So, spitter?
Labels:
apple review,
Dolgo,
Fall,
September,
Summer
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Starkey *
Today's Starkeys (I have 2) are medium-sized and slightly ribbed. One has a streaky red blush, the other a mostly solid one, each covering a bit more than half of the lively spring-green peel.
The blush is enlivened by large lenticels sparsely distributed
Starkey has a thick short stem and a closed calyx. It is quite firm in hand.
This is a celebrated old variety and the question as alway is, How does it eat?
The blush is enlivened by large lenticels sparsely distributed
Starkey has a thick short stem and a closed calyx. It is quite firm in hand.
This is a celebrated old variety and the question as alway is, How does it eat?
Sunday, September 14, 2014
First Macoun
![]() |
On the small side, with some light hazy bloom, ribbed, freckled, gorgeous. |
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Marshall McIntosh
Large and classically shaped, slightly ribbed, Marshall Mac wears a saturated red blush over a bright spring green.
Many light lenticels, some large, decorate the peel. They are especially visible in the blush.
White fine-grained flesh, tinted green, is a little spongy. The apple is tart tempered by sweetness, with classic McIntosh flavors of berries and wine (for the vinous definition of wine).
Flesh color and texture suggest this apple was picked a little early.
Many light lenticels, some large, decorate the peel. They are especially visible in the blush.
White fine-grained flesh, tinted green, is a little spongy. The apple is tart tempered by sweetness, with classic McIntosh flavors of berries and wine (for the vinous definition of wine).
Flesh color and texture suggest this apple was picked a little early.
Labels:
apple review,
Marshal Mac,
Marshal McIntosh,
September,
sport,
Summer
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Dandee Red vs. Paula Red smackdown
Today's bout pits an apple against its sport to see if there is any meaningful difference other than color.
Sports are genetic mutations of existing varieties. Typically they are just redder or earlier or something like that.
Occasionally the differences are great enough to yield a variety that feels wholly original, as with Lucky Rose Golden. Is Dandee one of those?
Paula is probably the best early-summer McIntosh-type apple, so whatever the outcome I look forward to eating it and its mutant clone.
![]() |
Paula Red (L) and Dandee Red. |
Occasionally the differences are great enough to yield a variety that feels wholly original, as with Lucky Rose Golden. Is Dandee one of those?
Paula is probably the best early-summer McIntosh-type apple, so whatever the outcome I look forward to eating it and its mutant clone.
Labels:
commentary,
comparisons,
Dandee Red,
Paula Red
Monday, September 8, 2014
Kimball Fruit Farm
![]() |
Many choices at Kimball Fruit Farm last Saturday |
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Dandee Red
Dandee is a large and slightly ribbed apple with a handsome saturated blush that covers nearly all of an otherwise green yellow peel.
The blush is a rich crimson with some purple. A smoky blue bloom adds visual interest.
Light lenticels run from large to small to indistinguishable.
The blush is a rich crimson with some purple. A smoky blue bloom adds visual interest.
Light lenticels run from large to small to indistinguishable.
Labels:
apple review,
August,
Dandee Red,
sport,
Summer
Monday, September 1, 2014
Gravenstein notes

These fruits also bear undeveloped pips, another indication of over-eager farming.
Labels:
August,
Gravenstein,
Red Gravenstein,
Summer
Monday, August 25, 2014
So long, Phil's Apples
One of my favorite U-picks is out of business and up for sale.
I took this photo in front of the property last week.
![]() |
Phil's in 2008 |
![]() |
For sale in 2014 |
I took this photo in front of the property last week.
Labels:
commentary,
orchard,
Phil's
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Red Free (Redfree)
I'm here for a second bite at Red Free, a gorgeously colored early variety that is on the large side of medium-sized.
It's oblate and really with no ribbing save around the base, which has the usual bumps.
The glossy blush runs from streaky to a deep cherry red over a green-tinted yellow.
The tiny lenticels are almost invisible. Meanwhile the apple is firm in hand and has only a faint sweet aroma.
It's oblate and really with no ribbing save around the base, which has the usual bumps.
The glossy blush runs from streaky to a deep cherry red over a green-tinted yellow.
The tiny lenticels are almost invisible. Meanwhile the apple is firm in hand and has only a faint sweet aroma.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Tydeman's Early Worcester *
The woman who sold me these medium-sized apples warned me twice they would be tart.
Tydeman's Early is round and only slightly ribbed, with a crimson blush that ranges from dark and saturated to streaky.
Many light lenticels of varying size make the surface of this apple a busy place.
Tydeman's Early is round and only slightly ribbed, with a crimson blush that ranges from dark and saturated to streaky.
Many light lenticels of varying size make the surface of this apple a busy place.
Labels:
*,
apple review,
August,
Summer,
Tydeman's Early,
Tydeman's Early Worcester
Monday, August 18, 2014
Pick no apple before its time
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Lodi vs. Yellow Transparent smackdown
![]() |
Lodi (L) and Yellow Transparent. These early varieties are sometimes confused.
|
Although both are among the earliest varieties of the summer, their respective seasons are so short, and their shelf lives so brief, that they rarely overlap.
Let's see who is the better apple.
Labels:
commentary,
comparisons,
Lodi,
Yellow Transparent
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
The Gala–Braeburn family
Despite the return of local apples last week, July was a month when I ate a lot of imports from the southern hemisphere.
As it turns out, many of the apples that drew me last month—16 of them—were offspring of Gala and Braeburn, two New Zealand varieties that have become supermarket staples here in the States.
(Yes, I am keeping track this year.)
Maybe you've been making similar choices. Here are mine.
As it turns out, many of the apples that drew me last month—16 of them—were offspring of Gala and Braeburn, two New Zealand varieties that have become supermarket staples here in the States.
Gala |
Braeburn |
Maybe you've been making similar choices. Here are mine.
Labels:
Braeburn,
commentary,
Envy,
Gala,
Jazz
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Apples of July and August
What early apples do you like? I've collected 15 interesting early-summer apples on this (clickable) board:
Follow Adam's Apples's board Apples of July and August on Pinterest.
Follow Adam's Apples's board Apples of July and August on Pinterest.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Fracking pipeline threatens Massachusetts apple orchard
![]() |
Clarkdale Farm is in the pipeline's path. |
The controversial plan would bring gas extracted by hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, from Pennsylvania and possibly New York, to feed the region's growing appetite for natural gas.
Critics say the multi-billion-dollar pipeline project, to be paid for by electric rates, is much bigger than needed.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Seasons' greetings!
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Good eating
The idea when I started this blog 6 years ago today was to blog about apples "to use the web to view the world."
Since then I've learned a lot about apples but also about blogging, technology, still photography, and writing for the web.
These "but also" things have always been very much a part of the project for me, though I've never made much ado about that side of things on this blog.
Since then I've learned a lot about apples but also about blogging, technology, still photography, and writing for the web.
These "but also" things have always been very much a part of the project for me, though I've never made much ado about that side of things on this blog.
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