Adam's Apples

The apple trees are sleeping at Hutchins Farm in Concord, Massachusetts.

The last outdoor market of the year spread its tattered wings under unseasonably warm skies on Wednesday, the day before the American Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November.  ¶  The market in Davis Square, Somerville, here in Massachusetts encamps on Wednesdays from June to November.  ¶  Thus it is ever fated to be among the very last, holding forth up to and including the day before every Thanksgiving.

The penultimate farmers market unfolded in Davis Square earlier today under bright skies. The low November light had most of the market in shadow by mid afternoon.

There are so many colors on this apple that I need two of them to show the full spectrum.  ¶  Regions with a green tint overlap with gold and brown in various combinations: mustard, yellow, olive, brown, orange.  ¶  The Royal Russet, also calle the Brown Russet, is an October apple that boasts real fall colors decorated by distinct light lenticel dots, some filled.

Suncrisp (L) and Winecrisp catch the low November light. Both are late-season varieties.

The suburban farmers markets ended last month, so today I traveled to Boston's premier outdoor market in Copley Square, under chilly, fast-moving grey clouds.  ¶  I was excited to find Gold Rush there, as I have never seen this great variety for sale at a farmers market before.

With a name like an Old Timey singer (or perhaps contortionist), the Smoky Mountain Limbertwig sports a beautiful deep red blush.  ¶  That color nearly covers all of the otherwise green-tinged yellow peel of these medium-to-large apples.  ¶  The apple is only moderately ribbed, and there are tiny light lenticels scattered in the glossy blush.

The annual pause of many farmers markets, and the brutally early end of Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, ushered in the  fading eleventh month with a bleak flourish.  ¶  Plenty of apples still abound, for a short while, but you must hunt for them.  ¶  Under grey skies at today's market in Davis Square, Somerville, one could choose from 20 apples, including these blushed Granny Smith .

A real plot twist, this one.  ¶  Robijn, small to medium sized, are a bit squat and modestly ribbed, many lopsided. The variegated blush, over yellow includes some very deep red streaks that are almost black.  ¶  Some bear zig zags of russet. Small tan lenticel dots swim in the mix of red and orange. The peal has a dull shine and a greasy (that is, waxy) feel. The stem is slim.  ¶  These apples have a sweet aroma, some with yeasty overtones. These are organic apples.