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Apples! Try the Ginger Golds...
Sep. 11th, 2005 04:18 pmOne of the best times of the year is here. Nothing is better than an apple just picked from the tree, and now is when you can get them. The drought here in Northern Illinois has reduced the apple crop and prices are up, but it's still worthwhile. The spring was bad in our area too, we had hail and a hard freeze while the blossoms were on the trees.
However, our local orchards are open and picking. We stopped by the nearest one today and got a sack of Jonamac, a reasonably good variety that is tart rather than sweet and makes good pie. They tell us the Empires will be ready in two weeks, and Melrose in three. Those are my favorites of the locally grown varieties.
The supermarket had a surprise this morning too. They usually do stock the most common varieties: Red Delicious (ick), Jonathan, Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith. Once in while they get something else if it is in season and available. Last week they had Paula Red, a soft-fleshed but juicy apple with a good flavor. They don't keep long but they are a tasty treat early in the season, and they come from Michigan, my preferred source. This week they had a variety I've never seen before, Ginger Gold.
A quick check of my apple encyclopedia tells me that Ginger Gold comes from a random seedling found in a Virginia orchard about 20 years ago. It resembles the familiar Golden Delicious in shape and color, but ripens much earlier and is considerably juicier. I bought a bag for $1.50 just to see how they are, and they are really good. These won't last long, and probably there won't be any more around. The variety is on the increase, though. These also came from Michigan, and the apple book says that there were two sources for grafted trees in 1993 and five sources in 2000.
The apples are very sweet and very juicy. The skin is greener than a Golden Delicious, and some have a little russeting (brown sandpapery areas on the skin, said to be the sign of a good winter keeping variety.) The flavor is so good that I suspect they would make good cider, something Golden Delicious or Red Delicious do not succeed at. The flesh is tender but still crunchy and the skin is not tough. Altogether a great eating apple. I recommend it to apple fans.
However, our local orchards are open and picking. We stopped by the nearest one today and got a sack of Jonamac, a reasonably good variety that is tart rather than sweet and makes good pie. They tell us the Empires will be ready in two weeks, and Melrose in three. Those are my favorites of the locally grown varieties.
The supermarket had a surprise this morning too. They usually do stock the most common varieties: Red Delicious (ick), Jonathan, Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith. Once in while they get something else if it is in season and available. Last week they had Paula Red, a soft-fleshed but juicy apple with a good flavor. They don't keep long but they are a tasty treat early in the season, and they come from Michigan, my preferred source. This week they had a variety I've never seen before, Ginger Gold.
A quick check of my apple encyclopedia tells me that Ginger Gold comes from a random seedling found in a Virginia orchard about 20 years ago. It resembles the familiar Golden Delicious in shape and color, but ripens much earlier and is considerably juicier. I bought a bag for $1.50 just to see how they are, and they are really good. These won't last long, and probably there won't be any more around. The variety is on the increase, though. These also came from Michigan, and the apple book says that there were two sources for grafted trees in 1993 and five sources in 2000.
The apples are very sweet and very juicy. The skin is greener than a Golden Delicious, and some have a little russeting (brown sandpapery areas on the skin, said to be the sign of a good winter keeping variety.) The flavor is so good that I suspect they would make good cider, something Golden Delicious or Red Delicious do not succeed at. The flesh is tender but still crunchy and the skin is not tough. Altogether a great eating apple. I recommend it to apple fans.
