Apple Rhapsody
“A WORD OF CAUTION to those entering an apple orchard for the first time: the experience can be overwhelming. Apples are…
Wealthy, Hermits, and the 2016 New England Apple Crop
WEALTHY, like the late-season apple Northern Spy, is a variety that was first grown in another state with seeds from…
Mutsu and Stayman Among the Year’s Best Late-season Apples
SOME OF THE BEST New England apples from the 2015 fresh harvest are still available in stores. Cortlands and McIntosh…
The Classic All-purpose Cortland
THERE MAY NOT BE a better all-purpose apple than Cortland. It has long been known for its excellence in pies….
New England Honeycrisp: the Real Deal
FEW APPLES are in as great demand every fall as Honeycrisp. This extraordinary apple combines several superlatives in one package,…
You Say ‘Gal-la, I Say ‘Gay-la’
NO MATTER how you pronounce it, Gala is among the very best sweet apples. It has more character and nuance…
Six Outstanding Early Apples, and an Outstanding 2015 Forecast
EARLY SEASON APPLES have come a long way in the past 50 years. Today, there are a number of excellent…
The Cult of Gravenstein
MANY HEIRLOOM APPLES have one or more flaws that keep them from mass cultivation. It may be that the variety…
McIntosh Meets Cardamom
VERSATILE as apples are, I have not come across many recipes that combine them with the sweet spice cardamom. Though…
Fall Foliage in New England Orchards
THE ORCHARD is a beautiful place in all seasons. October is an especially good time to visit — there are…
Trans-Atlantic Flair: European Apples in New England
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES have produced only a few new apples in recent years. But several venerable heirlooms still grown in New…
Classic Cookers: Northern Spy, Baldwin, and Rhode Island Greening
A CENTURY AGO they were the three most popular varieties in the Northeast. Today, Baldwin, Rhode Island Greening, and Northern…