Russell Steven Powell

A bin of Cortlands from Boothby's Orchard and Farm
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….

These Honeycrisp apples at Wellwood Orchards in Springfield, Vermont, were just days away from being picked when this photograph was taken September 2. (Russell Steven Powell photo)
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,…

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…

It’s a Beautiful Day in the New England Orchard!

THE BLOSSOMS are peaking now at many New England orchards, and close up or from a distance, it is a…

Cool Spring Warmly Received by New England Apple Growers

THE LONG WINTER and cool spring may be frustrating to heat-starved New Englanders, but it is good news for the…

Read All About it: New England Apple News

HERE IS a link to our special winter edition of McIntosh News, the quarterly newsletter of the New England Apple Association:…

My Favorite Apple

NEXT TO “What is the best pie apple?” the question I am asked the most — and which I frequently…

McIntosh Meets Cardamom

VERSATILE as apples are, I have not come across many recipes that combine them with the sweet spice cardamom. Though…

How to Eat a Fresh Apple

TWICE A DAY at least I reach into a paper bag in my refrigerator and pull out an apple. It…

What is the Best Pie Apple?

AFTER TWO MONTHS of intensive research, we are forced to admit failure — once again — in our perennial quest…