Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Flower of Kent *

Ribbed apple with reb blush partially over green

Heads up!

This apple, according to a charming story, is the same variety that conked Isaac Newton's noggin in 1666.

It might even be true.

Sunday, September 27, 2020

Little, Big

Tiny apple and big apple
Little Wickson catches the breeze with a particularly magnificent Macoun.

Monday, September 21, 2020

Pixie Crunch *

Today I learned that Pixie Crunch, a modern variety less than 30 years old, is an "heirloom" apple because, apparently, it is not Honeycrisp, Gala, or Red Delicious.

(Not, by the way.)

My two tasting samples are small and medium, slightly oblate spheres with no appreciable ribbing. 

These attractive compact apples are rock hard in my hand with a stripey red blush. Tiny, distinct tan lenticel dots lend a visual accent.

Sunday, September 20, 2020

Scenes from a Pandemic Harvest

masked shoppers under a canopy with bags of apples and bins of orange pumpkins

Some u-picks are by appointment this fall, and others have redesigned their corn mazes to permit social distancing, according to the New York Times.

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

The Orchard Heats Up

These maps of climate change got me thinking:

3 maps of continental U.S. showing distribution of temperatures

The graphics is from a story in the trade publication Good Fruit Grower entitled "Turning Up the Heat Raises Risks for Ag Workers."

The story covers a recent study that prescribes best heat-beating practices (such as clothing types and incentivizing hydration) to protect agricultural workers.

All good points—really good points—but also