Adam's Apples

Imagine my surprise to find mustard in my apple last week. Not the actual golden brown spicy stuff, but rather its distinctive tang. Minus the heat.

Not a bud has burst earlier today at Huchins Farm in Concord, Massachusetts.

I love how every apple has a story. Sometimes the stories come with titles, in the names of the apples. Here are five of them. Nodhead . This amiable old-style apple with cider and watermelon notes originated in Hollis, New Hampshire, in the eighteenth century. A local historical website records that the apple, developed by by Samuel Jewett, "was locally known as Nod-head from the fact that Jewett nodded his head when walking or talking." None other than  Jewett's several-times great grandson  has chimed in on this story. The apple is also known as Jewett's Red. Empire . What could possibly be the significance of the name "Empire" for this product of New York State's famous fruit-breeding program ? This relatively modern variety dates from...

As the saying goes: blogging = focus + voice. I've nailed the focus bit. But sometimes I fret about the voice. Meet the Apple Snob, an online persona I have played with, though only in my head. Tally ho! Because who does not like a little knowing snark with their fruit?

Who shall dethrone the mighty Honeycrisp? The wolves have been circling for some time around old King Honeycrisp . This variety originated, and still dominates, the niche of super crisp, tooth-achingly sweet apples. Honeycrisp's rival apples aspire to rule the kingdom, not to topple it. To supplant with same-only-better, not to challenge with new tastes and textures. By when did the King get so old? What makes him vulnerable?

More than a hundred thoughtful descriptions (and photos) of apples are tucked away in a small website set up to manage the Out on a Limb Apple CSA (community supported agriculture). The descriptions are unsigned, but authorship must certainly belong to one of the CSA's farmers, apple sleuth and rescuer John Bunker .