Turning it up to 11

Just some of the choices at the farmers market in Belmont, Massachusetts, earlier today.

I am used to thinking of mid-September as a kind of calm before the storm of fruit to come, a time when there are no new choices at the market at all.

And it is true that this week the roll call of apples only grew from 10 to 11.

But look at these heavy hitters.

Macoun. Ashmead's Kernel. Mcintosh. These are serious fruit.

Here's the list. Apples making their seasonal debuts are in italics.

• Ashmead's Kernel
• Cortland
• Fuji
• Gala
• Ginger Gold
• Honeycrisp
• Hudson's Golden gem
• Liberty
• Macoun
• McIntosh
• Swiss Gourmet

Swiss Gourmet is also known as Arlet.

Some of these are still early and will be better next week. But all are enjoyable now.

Liberty apples, that is.