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.

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.

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 .

The day shone sunny and bright at the last outdoor farmers market of the year.  (Photo:  The low November sun kisses the last apples of the year at the Davis Square farmers market in Somerville, Massachusetts, earlier today. )  There were 11 different kinds of apples to buy.

Some apples yet cling to the bare branches in the low late November light.

The end of the season is nigh at the Davis Square farmers market earlier today.  ¶  With just a week to go before the markets' seasonal end, there are fewer farmers with less fruit and less time.  ¶  Deals can be had.

There are only a few more weeks left until Thanksgiving and the end of the outdoor markets.  (Photo:  These big red Cortlands were for sale at the Davis Square, Somerville (Massachusetts) farmers market earlier today. )  The weather has turned brisk, as it does in November, and the sun is low in the sky during those times when it is up at all.

Darkness falls in America early this month as we set our clocks back an hour for Daylight Savings Time.  (Photo:  Electric lighting illuminates the apples at the Davis Square farmers market in Somerville, Massachusetts, earlier today. )  Night was falling at 5 pm at farmers market in Davis Square (Somerville, Massachusetts) today. You could have bought 14 different kinds of apples there.

The sticker of the day graces a lovely Stayman Winesap .  ¶  See closing times at the polls for every American state and territory.

Deals can be had on the rain-soaked last day of farmers' market 2023 in Davis Square, Somerville.  ¶  Some farmstands sell their apples through February, but most things shut down after Thanksgiving.  ¶  Today was the last day for the farmers market in Davis Square, Somerville.  ¶ 

Farmers' market in Davis Square, Somerville, earlier today.  ¶  The urban farmers' markets will continue until Thanksgiving, even though the suburban ones have closed for the year.  ¶  The nearest market to me is in Davis Square, Somerville . The market coordinators told me the market will be open noon to 6 p.m. for the next two Wednesdays, even though it's pretty dark by six.

The trees stand all but bare in stark November light at Shelburne Farm in Stow, Massachusetts.  ¶  The fruit is off the trees, all right. It's sitting in bins ready for you buy.  ¶  Welcome to the hunt-and-gather time of year . It's time to stock up on fruit for the onset of winter.

"Last day of market" in Davis Square, Somerville, today. The American Thanksgiving is tomorrow, which means that the urban markets here ended today.

Today's apple is a "new" Northern Spy–type apple from Nova Scotia (get it?). It's one of the "Nova" series bred by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada . This Nova, from a home grower, exhibits both flyspeck (which has nothing to do with flies) and sooty blotch (which has nothing to do with soot) over an uneven orange-red blush and yellow-green peel. 

The sun sets on the last farmers market of the year in Davis Square, Somerville, where deals can be had. The last market of the year closed cold but bright on the day before Thanksgiving.

This medium-sized, slightly tapered apple has a rich (but nonetheless striped) red blush that covers most of an underlying yellow. Tiny light lenticels widely spaced, ribbing, and a bit of natural gloss, round out the classic look. Mine bears a sweet cidery aroma.

The apple trees bask in the low light at Hutchins Farm earlier today. This week has been an apple hunt for me. I've picked up some Melrouge, Winesap, Blushing Golden, and Arkansas Black.