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September 09, 2005
Honeycrisp:The Appalachian Apple Nation Appellation
Terribly sorry, the involuntary noxious punster that resides within is temporarily not controlee. I'm over-excited because of the arrival of the Honeycrisp apple season, something I did not even know about until a few years ago. Whenever I moan and groan over the variety and quality of stone fruits and berries available in the Pittsburgh area, I remind myself that these absolutely terrific apples do particularly well around here, and could not be grown in most of California.
Why? Because in most of California the winters are not cold enough. (Poor dears.) This apple is the top absolute best out of hand eating apple I know. This comes from a woman who loves apples, and cherishes all sorts of apple flavors. I even had two trees when I had my own garden- a Cox's Orange Pippin and a Westfield-Seek-no-Further-both of which I planted myself. I do not say this lightly!
Do not waste this apple cooking it- it will be ordinary if you do. Further, though it will store, it is much better the fresher it is, because the story here is texture. Not that the flavor isn't good. It is a very, very tasty apple, sweet, a bit winey, and a tang. But there are other apples with flavors more complex and interesting.
This apple is so crisp that you can hear it crunch in the next county. It is so juicy that it is like drinking a glass of sparkling cider. And like I said, the flavor is very very fine. Also, the season is short for the freshly picked ones. Get some if you can.
My friend Ilene discovered these apples (which by the way, were first grown at a midwestern university in the not too distant past, and are not an appalachian native discovery) by chance a few years ago. She was only able to get a few at the farm store, but shared with me most kindly. The following year, we were both at a semi-local Apple Festival (the kind of thing with tractor rides and excessively beribboned craft items), where they were selling bulk apples from giant barrels in a barn.
Most barrels were labeled on the side. We found that one barrel to the side was unlabeled, but had some familiar looking apples inside. Tried one, and it was a whole barrel of Honeycrisps. As you can see, it is not a conventionally pretty apple (I personally find it very nice to look at, but you know what I mean) and I guess they didn't think anyone would care for them. They were cheap. We were greedy. It was great.
Those days are over. Supermarket Honeycrisps now cost more than other kinds of apples. I am going to slice one up and eat it right this minute. Hope you can find some too. As to its appearance, well, if Cezanne was picking something to paint today, I think he'd go for this one before a Red Delicious every time. It has multiple color shadings, stripes, freckles, and a nice round apple-y shape.
Posted at 12:16 PM in Around Pittsburgh, Shopping Bags | Permalink
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Toast
I, like Lenn, am also a PA native (Reading) and just returned to California from a visit to Altoona, my family hometown. I found myself missing scrapple and mush and frozen custards!
But apples --that is another thing that CA cannot match. The apples out here are nothing like the beauties in PA and New England. The best things in our farmer's markets are dull fujis. Ho Hum.
Thanks for making me think of those great apples. I wish I had some real Cider too! - CD
Posted by: The Corkdork | September 10, 2005 at 12:28 PM
"This apple is so crisp that you can hear it crunch in the next county."
Lindy, how one longs for apples like the Honeycrisps you have described.They sound absolutely delicious.
For some reason ( and I have to find out why), we don't seem to be getting many apples from our princial applegrowing regions, Kashmir and Kulu.They used to be a trifle tart but all the same very flavourful.Many apples are imported, they look good, and are not as crunchy or tasty as they look.
I think it might be due to chemical ripening rather than ripening on the tree.
Anyway Honeycrisps are something I am going to try if I ever find myself in that part of the world.!
Posted by: deccnaheffalump | September 10, 2005 at 01:54 PM
Corkdork- Altoona! The curve!
I have been on the train and gone around it.
I have even seen an Altoona "Curve" minor league baseball game (after attending a meeting in Altoona for work).
It is such a cool old fashioned baseball park, I loved it. You are so close to the field, no matter where you sit.
Deccnaheffalump- I'm guessing that it may be mostly the time the imported apples spend traveling.
I think most apples are so noticeably superior as close to picking as possible. Vendors may think that because apples are still okay when stored, they might as well not rush them.
I wish I could hand you both one of these beauties right now, while they are at their best.
Posted by: lindy | September 10, 2005 at 09:15 PM
Oooh, Honeycrisp!
I have the privilige of having a father-in-law who is a highly talented fruit farmer, here in Southern Ontario, Canada. A few years ago, he proudly brought me the very first example of fruit bourne by a new (to him) cultivar he had incorporated into his apple orchard, an enormous, fantastic, mottled green and red honeycrip apple. I can still remember, with vivid detail, the sharp, almost violent crunch (crash?) of the first bite, and the rush of juice that ran down my chin like the best of the summer peaches.
Just this afternoon I had another of these princely fruit, and couldn't help but take an even half-dozen, for my kids and I to enjoy until the next time we visit the farm - tomorrow. :)
I'm delighted to hear that you enjoy them as much as I do!
Posted by: Anik | September 11, 2005 at 02:14 AM
Anik-You certainly are lucky to have such a father-in-law!
I'm taking some to work with me this morning to share with my office-mates.
Thanks for stopping by.
Posted by: lindy | September 12, 2005 at 05:14 AM
I've never heard of these apples, but they sound delicious. What a vividly written and thoroughly enjoyable post!
Posted by: Amy | September 12, 2005 at 04:14 PM
Just came by again to say thanks for this writeup! I wasn't even thinking of apples at the Farmers Market yesterday, and guess what I found a huge bin of? Yep, Honeycrisp. Remembering your post, I bought a few and WOW. Even though they travelled all the way here to FL, I loved them and my girls did, too. Thanks again.
Posted by: Amy | September 15, 2005 at 09:17 AM
Amy- So cool that you found them! Aren't they amazing?
Posted by: lindy | September 15, 2005 at 12:04 PM