26 apple varieties in one day

Today I could have bought 26 different kinds of apples at 4 different farm stands. 28 if you count all 3 versions of Cortland as separate varieties.

I was not so extravagant as that, but the choices this time of year are great!

Here is the tally, from south to north. (You can see these places on my map.)

Volante Farm in Needham had Hampshire, "Sanza" (Sansa), Mutsu, Gala, Dayton, McIntosh, Cortland, Jonamac, Thome Empire, Honeycrisp, Macoun, Liberty, and Gingergold.

Volante gets apples from at least two orchards, one in Central Massachustts and on in New Hampshire, and always seems to have an amazing selection. No heirlooms this trip however.

Brigham Farm Stand in Concord was the place with 3 kinds of Cortland apples: regular, Red Cortland, and Royal. Brigham also had Paula Red, Mac, Golden Supreme, Macoun, Gala, Empire, Honeycrisp, and Jersey Mac. A surprise to see Jersey Mac this late in the year.

Just up the road, Verril Farm in Concord was selling Mcintosh, Gala, Paula Red, Macoun, Cortland, Empire, Honeycrisp, and Gingergold.

Finally, Hutchins Farm, also in Concord, was selling Jonagold, Liberty, it's own Sister of Fortune, Spartan, Spencer, Empire, Gala, Macoun, Shensu, Jonafree, Priscilla, Sweet 16, and an antique apple, King David.

Of these farm stands, Hutchins is the only farm that actually grows apples, and the only organic farm.

I generally do not review sports of apples, like those today of Cortland, except by accident or if there are significant differences in eating quality. Usually there are not, although differences in color or disease resistance might be very important to the farmer. 

Maybe some year I should sit down with as many Cort sports as I can find and see what I think.