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GOLDEN RUSSET
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Rich, sweet, aromatic, gently tart,
and so pretty, this may be the all-time most popular of American russets.
Originated in the 1700's, known to George Washington and his fellow
citizens, by the late 19th century Golden Russets traveled from Northeastern
growers to the South, the Northwest, and abroad. It was justly prized
for eating raw, cooking, cellar-keeping, and making hard cider. |
| Flavor: |
Sweet, fruity, aromatic |
| Flesh: |
Grainy, yellow, firm |
| Appearance: |
Golden with orange blush, fully russeted,
mid-size (2-1/4 to 2-3/4²) |
| Harvest: |
Mid-October |
| Peak Quality: |
October-February |
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WICKSON
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This lovely little
apple is tart, aromatic, with unique herbal and spicy flavors. Wickson
was first developed in the 1800s for (hard) cidermaking, and named
for a distinguished California pomologist of the day. Though it tastes
delightful, its small size meant that few commercial growers would
plant it. Wickson is an accidental taste treat, and beautiful in a
fruit bowl. |
| Flavor: |
: Tart, aromatic, with herbal
and spicy qualities: very unusual flavor |
| Flesh: |
Fine-grained, crisp, white,
juicy. |
| Appearance: |
Brilliant red over yellow,
smooth, small (1-1/4#² to 1-3/4²) |
| Harvest: |
Early October |
| Peak Quality: |
October-December |
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ASHMEAD'S KERNEL
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Its vigorous sweet-tart
spicy flavor made this old English favorite a celebrated name. Three
centuries ago a certain Dr. Ashmead raised it from seed in his orchard
near Gloucester. It went on to win many taste competitions, including
several at the Royal Horticultural Society, and was first introduced
to North America in the early 1700s. |
| Flavor: |
Strong, spicy, tart with
sweet note |
| Flesh: |
Grainy, crisp, yellowish |
| Appearance: |
Copper-reddish gold, with
variable russeting; mid-size (2-1/4 to 2-3/4²) |
| Harvest: |
Mid October |
| Peak Quality: |
October-December |
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HUDSON'S GOLDEN GEM
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An intensely sweet, hard, aromatic,
and strangely elegant-looking apple. Sometime in the 1930's, an apple
seed dropped in an Oregon hedgerow produced the first Hudson's Golden
Gem tree, propagated by various fruit fanatics ever since. We find
this elongate, conical russet grows beautifully here. Its intensely
sweet flavor and glowing complexion make it a favorite at our taste
trials. |
| Flavor: |
Extremely sweet, aromatic
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| Flesh: |
Grainy, crisp, yellow, juicy |
| Appearance: |
Uniformly golden, fully
russeted, conical, mid-to large size ( 2-1/2² to 3²) |
| Harvest: |
Early October |
| Peak Quality: |
October-November |
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ESOPUS SPITZENBERG
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Sweet, tart, full
of complex fruity and spicy flavors, with the dense, hard flesh of
the old-fashioned keepers. Reputed to be Thomas Jefferson's favorite
apple, Esopus Spitzenberg was grown at Monticello when the variety
was quite new. It originated in the mid-1700s near Esopus, New York,
in one of the many orchards planted by Low Dutch settlers in the area.
Tricky to grow, but a treasure to fruit lovers. |
| Flavor: |
Intensely sweet-acid, spicy,
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| Flesh: |
Fine-grained, crisp, dense,
near-white |
| Appearance: |
Red-orange over yellow,
smooth, often lobed, mid sized (2-1/4² to 2-3/4² ) |
| Harvest: |
Late September, early October |
| Peak Quality: |
October-December |
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POMME GRISE (Grey Apple)
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This sweet, nutty-flavored
little apple came to the U.S. from the St. Lawrence Valley, where
it has been grown for over 150 years for local and specialty markets.
A virtually identical apple remains popular in France, under the name
³Pomme Canada² . Some pomologists link it to an old French variety,
Reinette Grise; if true, this link brings us a taste of King Louis
XIV's time. |
| Flavor: |
Rich, nutty, aromatic |
| Flesh: |
Fine-grained, firm, slight
green-yellow tinge, small (1-1/2²-2²) |
| Appearance: |
Green-gold, slight orange
blush, variably russetted |
| Harvest: |
September |
| Peak Quality: |
September-October |
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