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Off-season substitutions, or what to eat in April

Despite its "April" title, this post might be helpful from December through July, if you are missing your favorite apples.

If your favorite is available year round, like Red Delicious or Braeburn, you might still want to try something a little different.

If you like Try Because
McIntosh, Macoun, Gravenstein, Winesap, & similar Empire Though not complex, crisp Empire, with its berry and vinous notes, is like a generic version of these classic varieties.
Honeycrisp, Melrose, Melrouge Pacific Rose, Fuji Light, sweet, and crisp.
Rhode Island Greening, Newtown Pippin Granny Smith Authoritative tang.
Cox's Orange Pippin, Esopus Spitzenberg Piñata Piñata's interesting tastes recall these full-flavored classics, though much sweeter.
Blushing Golden, Gold Rush, Jonagold Golden Delicious; Gala Mellow favorite; crisp pleaser. Note Golden D is an ancestor, and in most cases a parent, of all these varieties.
Red Delicious Ambrosia, Cameo, Pacific Rose, Fuji Any of these four are superior. Sweet, crisp, and delicate.
Braeburn, Gala Jazz First-rate Braeburn-Gala cross.
Cortland (for salads) Lady Alice Like Cortland, crisp Alice oxidizes slowly.
Most russet apples Bosc or other pear Pear notes.

Most of my "try" suggestions should be available year-round, or nearly so, but a few have more-limited sales windows.

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