Adam's Apples

Today's head-to-head compares two modern varieties available in North America only briefly around the turning of the year. Both Opal (L) and Junami were developed in Europe, and both embody balance and  flavor in a way that the previous generation of commercial apples (lookin' at you Gala , Braeburn , Fuji ) do not. Other than that, these are utterly different.

A bag of tiny organic Crimson Golds from my supermarket. 'Tis the season, apparently, for apples sold in bags. In addition to the above Crimson Golds, my local supermarket is also selling bags of Junami apples.

I learned of this new apple last Tuesday from a thoughtful reader's comment. Fat chance, thought I, to find it anywhere in my neck of the woods this year. The next morning I read a short blurb about the apple in the Boston Globe; I was able to buy some that afternoon. Update: They were gone without a trace the following Sunday. Short season!