Adam's Apples

Two years ago I had the idea of comparing Macoun with Rubyfrost. This was an appealing thought because both are products of the same breeding program in New York, separated by 90 years. But it proved not a fair match . So this year I am back with what ought to be a more apt comparison: Rubyfrost (r) versus Empire , also from the same breeding program. Those tiny white streaks are snowflakes.

Today's head-to-head compares two apples, one well-established and the other very new, from one of the oldest large-scale apple-breeding program in the Americas.

Rubyfrost, in some of the white stuff that we have so much of these days. Just a year ago the only way I could sample Rubyfrost, a spanking new apple from the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station , was to have a friend send one to me. Yet there it was last week in my local supermarket. These apples are from the 2014 harvest, which is a rapid deployment to market outside of the Empire State. So how does Rubyfrost hold up in storage? Pretty well!

Today's new variety is a large apple with a deep and even red blush randomly studded with tan lenticels. The only unblushed peel, a tiny patch in the stem well, is more green than yellow This sample is misshapen, lopsided and with a great dimple in one side (not shown). I think its ideal shape is rounded with very moderate ribbing that really only shows at the base. I like odd shapes and this attractive apple feels very solid and sports a cidery aroma.