Appley Ever After
Appley Ever After
Late summer and early fall brings one of the most iconic and beloved fruits of the season, apples! With over 50 different varieties, we have an apple flavor and profile to please everyone. Maybe you would prefer sweet mild Galas over a sharp tart Granny Smith, a zesty Winesap over a juicy McIntosh, now is… Read More »
Late summer and early fall brings one of the most iconic and beloved fruits of the season, apples! With over 50 different varieties, we have an apple flavor and profile to please everyone. Maybe you would prefer sweet mild Galas over a sharp tart Granny Smith, a zesty Winesap over a juicy McIntosh, now is a great time to begin your sampling quest!
Apple season here in Chester NJ begins in August however, September really signifies the start of apple picking season, as the night temperatures start to drop, kids have gone back to school and folks begin to embrace the autumn mood. Our very first apples are Gala, Lodi, Redfree, Zestar, & Paula Red, to name a few. Also included in the early season apple variety is the sought after Honeycrisp apple!
Honeycrisp apples were developed in Minnesota in the 1960’s, however really did not arrive in markets until the 1990’s. Having apple parents as the very popular Golden Delicious and the favored Macoun, it is sure to have a winning taste and flavor. Honeycrisp apples have the best crunch that we all love, taste a little sweet with just enough acidity to make a really flavorful apple variety. Maybe that is why they are so popular or maybe it’s because they are also a very pretty apple, containing a little yellow or green with an orange blush. The Honeycrisp apple is also known to have some russet dots on the skin. This variety of apple is best used for serving fresh, on a cheese board, or in a salad or eating out of hand, yum!
Did you know? Not all apples ripen at the same time and each of us on our farm wait patiently for our favorites to come in season. We created a helpful ripening guide to help you stay in the know and make the most of apple season. In addition to apples having their own ripening times, they also each have their own unique uses, meaning how to best savor their flavor & texture. Some apples are ideal for baking, some are best for eating fresh, while others are ideal for cooking. Our ripening and use guide will help you truly enjoy all the apple varieties
available on our farm.
Another early season variety is Zestar. Zestar apples are best eaten out of hand or used for baking which applies to most early season apples. Zestar are crisp, juicy with a sweet tart flavor and a noticeable hint of brown sugar. Zestar parents are “State Fair” and a Minnesota apple MN 1961. During the course of the season, we do our best to cite the parentage of many of our apples and the origin to help you get to know your favorites and to encourage you to try other varieties. You will see that most apples are from orchards in Minnesota, New York State, Washington State, and even a bit closer to home from Rutgers in New Jersey!
We recommend storing apples in the refrigerator, taking them out and bringing them back to room temperature when ready to serve for the best flavor. Check out some of the variety of apples available on our farm with our ripening guide.
Looking to enjoy apples in some specially curated recipes by our culinary & educational specialist, Miss Jenn? Check out her apple chutney recipe or apple strudel recipe or this not-to-miss recipe for Honeycrisp apple tarts!
Best wishes from our farm kitchen to yours! XO
