Comments on: Apple Varieties I’ve Had This Year

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:01:06 +0000

Fuji.
It is very good most years when you get it around harvest, but it doesn’t seem to store real well and is sometime mealy.

By: SamChevre

SamChevre — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:01:18 +0000

My favorite hard-to-find apple is the Shockey.

Small, OK flavor but nothing special. But it has very thin skin that doesn’t toughen when cooked, and flesh that cooks perfectly tender-firm; it makes incomparably good pickled and spiced apples.

Sometime when you feel like a road trip, go to Vintage Virginia Apples. (And come visit me while you’re in the area.)

By: Farmer Troy

Farmer Troy — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 22:08:06 +0000

Jesse,
Our philosophy is that the pests can share in the harvest . . . they usually only eat a small amount, and there’s plenty to go around. A lot of crops really don’t even have pest problems . . . except for the big pests like deer

By: jwsharrard

jwsharrard — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:45:26 +0000

Thanks for the correction, Troy–I’m always glad for help like that. I’ve never claimed to be an expert on agriculture (anyone who’s ever seen my garden will confirm that I’m not), so I go with the best information I have available based on what I’ve read and conversations with people who do grow. That having been said, ‘m always relying on agricultural experts like you to set me straight and update my info. If you have a chance, please let me know how you control your pests without spraying.

By: Farmer Troy

Farmer Troy — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 21:51:19 +0000

Not all organic produce has pesticides on it . . . it depends on the farm.

Personally, I don’t use any pesticides on my produce (including apples).

The only thing I sprayed for this year was flea beetles on eggplant, and the spray was called “Garlic Barrier” made from garlic, and it was only sprayed on the leaf of the plant, before the fruits were formed, so it is not on the actual eggplant itself.

Please don’t use a blanket statement that implies that all organic produce has pesticides on it, because it just isn’t the case.

By the way, my best tasting apple this year was Golden Delicious, right off of the tree, it was wonderful!!!

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:38:08 +0000

By the way, as far as I know Lodi has only one i.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:20:45 +0000

Favorites of mine that you didn’t mention are Spencer, Ida Red, Paula Red, Gala, and Macoun. If we get a chance this weekend, we’ll drop by the orchard and see if any that you haven’t tried are left and take them to Pittsburgh.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 02:16:13 +0000

Jesse, I LOVE Honey Crisp apples. And I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that this was the mystery apple you had. They’ve become the darling of the apple community (if there’s such a thing). They’re known for their crisp, juicy nature and have a touch of honey sweetness to them. They have a somewhat pink-ish color to them.

Otherwise, it could have been a Pink Lady apple. Also very good, but not getting as much of the spotlight as the Honey Crisp.

I’ve seen both at Whole Foods.

Pink Lady

Honey Crisp