The harvest on parade

Brigham's had 11 apple varieties today.

Today I visited two farmstands in Concord, Mass., where I had my pick of 20 different varieties of apples, some heirlooms. 21 if you count different varieties of Cortland.

'Tis the season, to be sure.

The Brigham Farm Stand, which no longer grows its own apples, offered Honeycrisp, Cortland, McIntosh, Gingergold, Gala, Jonagold, Macoun spicy and floral, "Russet," yummy and bakeable Northern Spy, and Fuji, all local.

Is there anything better than walking into these old wooden buildings and seeing the bins of apples, each with something different?

Eleven varieties at Hutchins Farm.

Just a few miles up the road, Hutchins Farm was selling their own organic fruit, including Spencer, Liberty, their cleverly nicknamed Sister of Fortune, Empire, Senshu, subtle Reinette Simirenko, Spartan, and the farm's own mysterious "Awesome." Also 3 of the same varieties available from Brigham's.

I did not have enough time to make it to a farmers market today, but based on yesterday's haul I would have expected to find Elstar, Baldwin, Roxbury Russet, Melrouge, and Golden Russet, all high-season varieties, as well as other popular apples already named.

I haven't had any yet, but the Roxburies looked particularly handsome this year. Baldwin was first rate.

Next week, and this weekend, will probably be even better. Now is your chance to try something different and wonderful.

See my "You may also like..." series, or my ratings, or just take a flier on a brand new experience.