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By Dan "The Produce Man" Avakian With all the imports in fresh produce trying (and doing a good job I must say) to fill the gap, it's hard for the average consumer to tell when an item is new crop or just a filler. Well folks this is the month that you can depend on 100% US grown apples. All growing regions in the united states are harvesting hundreds of varieties of apples. Now as I have stated in previous articles, don't forget your local small orchards. They are always good for rare varieties that are usually outstanding in flavor! Get them while you can before urban sprawl steals them away! There are so many varieties growing in all areas of the country from New England to Michigan to Idaho, Colorado, Washington to California and wherever you happen to be right now. If I went through all the varieties I would be writing a dictionary. All apples on the market right now are new crop and the time is ripe to try varieties that you haven't had before. Apples originated thousands of years ago. The earliest writings from Egypt, Babylon and China mention apples. In fact they were budding and grafting fruit trees as far back as 2000 years ago. The apple made it's way to new lands as a product of love and war. Between the Greeks and Romans referring it of a symbol of love and beauty and Ceasar invading Britain. Apple varieties traveled to Switzerland, Holland and finally the New World with the pilgrims. The first commercial apple tree was established in Flushing, Long Island, in 1730. Then of course the Westward Movement is partially responsible for apple trees in covered wagons to be planted here and there as folks settled in. But the person responsible for mass fanatical planting of apple trees across this fine land of ours was a fellow named John Chapman. Born on September 26, 1774 in Leominster Massachusetts. He was the son of a Minutemen who fought in the Revolutionary War and at Concord prior. His mother died when he was young and he and his sister lived with their aunt while their father fought in the war. In 1797 John began his westward journey. He moved ahead of the pioneers and being the practical nurseryman that he was he spent time planting orchards for the settlers with seeds that he purchased from cider mills back in Pennsylvania. The law in those days required the settlers to plant at least fifty apple trees their first year to ensure stability. John Chapman was there to help. He owned land in Indiana and Ohio where he planted trees. From there he set out to plant orchards. He also sold and gave away trees to traveling pioneers. He was a deeply religious man and preached to the settlers that listened to him. He truly practiced what he preached and he was accepted as peacemaker between the Indians and the settlers. John spent 50 years spreading the word and his apple trees. He died in Fort Wayne Indiana in 1845. Today many historic monuments mark his trail throughout the United States where he is known as "Johnny Appleseed." Today in the US alone there are over 300 varieties grown. Newer varieties include the Braeburn, Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, Jonamac, Red Cort and the Spartan. Brand new varieties include the Pink lady, the Sudowner, and the Cameo. Although there are 35 apple-producing states in the US, The major producers are Washington, Upper New York, Michigan, and California.
A run down on some varieties
Macintosh
Spartan
Red Cort & Cortland California Varieties
Sundowner
Pink Lady
Fuji
Royal Gala
Gravenstien Washington newcomers
Cameo
Criterion I could have touched on more common varieties but, I am challenging you to be adventurous! Try varieties that you have never had before. They await you!
Now here's my Mother's Apple Pie Recipe that I promised you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crust |
| 2/3 cup Crisco/butter mixture. |
| 2 cups flower |
| add about five tablespoons of ice water |
| mix until it's crumbly |
| spread some flower on a board and roll it thin. Not real thin, but thin |
| place in the bottom of the pie plate. |
| Let the dough hang over |
| Sprinkle some Cinnamon on the bottom and |
| Add ½ cup granulated sugar |
| Peel 6 large Macintosh Apples. (per pie) |
| Core them and cut into slices |
| Now, on top of the slices add ½ cup brown sugar, or better yet ½ pure Vermont maple Syrup |
| Squeeze the juice of about ¼ of a medium sized lemon on it. |
| cut a ½ stick of butter into About 6 pads and place them on top |
| put the top crust on and crimp the two together |
Bake in preheated oven @ 425 for 20 minutes. Reduce to 330 for 40 more min. Place alunimum pans under in case of run-over. Let them cool and eat!
Join Dan "The Produce Man" every Saturday @ Noon as he co-hosts the National Radio Show "The Produce Pair" heard on the Talk America Radio Network! www.producepair.com
E-mail Dan with your produce questions produceman@producepair.com
