Adam's Apples

I tried today's variety with the knowledge that it is a cross between Honeycrisp and Cripps Pink . Update: The patent holder has rebranded this apple as "Wild Twist." It was marketed as "Sweet Cheeks" when I wrote this review, so that is what you will see here. However, Sweet Cheeks (yes that is a name) did not especially reflect eating qualities from either parent.

When she is good, she is very very good. But when she has not been allowed to mature in storage, Lady Alice is starchy and blah. Alice is fabulous in late March and in April. And yet, the ladies keep showing up in the supermarkets in February. This year, in January.

It'll be many months before I eat anything fresh-picked from an orchard, so the topic of keepers , and of the long-lived varieties that do well in controlled atmosphere storage, has been much on my mind. Keepers, sometimes called winter apples, are varieties that will stay good for months in a root cellar or refrigerator.

I don't always do the greatest job of keeping track of my apple acquisitions. So it was this morning, when I found my last Celestia apple in a bag in my fruit bin. It was past its prime but still quite good, with strong rich flavors that had matured in storage.

Do you like steady, mellow, and well flavored Golden Delicious ? This honeyed variety has enriched the world of apples as much or more than any. It is reliably consistent and easy to eat. It stores well and is available year round.  ¶  However, Golden Delicious is best during or after the October harvest. If you are eating Golden D in late summer or early fall, you really owe it to yourself to try some of the great varieties that are available fresh.

From U.S. Plant Patent No. 90 , circa 1934: My invention relates to improvements in apples of the type depending on color and earliness of coloring for a portion of their commercial value. The objects of my improvement are, first, to provide an apple of the well-known Delicious type which will color about two weeks earlier than the Delicious and therefore be ready to reach the earlier and higher priced markets; and second, to secure on each tree a higher percentage of fruits having the desired high coloring.