Adam's Apples

I have three of these extremely flattened beauties from Mike, a reader in Southern California. They are green and blushed, with pronounced ribbing and short thick stems.

Which of these apples is a 150-year-old heirloom? is from a local (Massachusetts) orchard? is commonly sold in supermarkets and grocery stores across North America? If you've been reading my blog you know the answer. You also know that this is a trick question.

Keim is German for "sprout."  ¶  This apple proved unusual in several ways.  ¶  You can see the very different shapes that are possible, one very oblate but only modestly ribbed, and the other a bit stocky and with ribbing so pronounced as to produce a distinct crease. Despite the differences in shape, the apples share a small wash of red-orange blush over a very yellow spring green. The blush includes saturated spots of red pigment haphazardly at some of the lenticels.

Back from a quick trip to the Pioneer Valley (Massachusetts), where I got a bag of Gold Rush , some interesting ciders (hard and sweet ), and this photo. Shown: The emblem of Clarkdale Fruit Farm in Deerfield.