Once you’ve tasted a really good apple, it is easy to see why Eve was tempted by this fruit. My favorite varieties are crisp, sweet and juicy such as Cox Orange Pippin, which is an heirloom variety.
Heritage apples are garnering more and more attention these days and I’m glad of it because there is such a wide range of flavors to choose from. With all the new interest, you no longer have to grow the apple trees to enjoy the vintage varieties. You can order them and have them delivered right to your door! It is fun to try a sampler box to discover which apples are your favorites.
Now, once you start trying all these different apples, you will soon learn that some are better suited for cooking than others. Some of my favorite heritage varieties are Rome Beauty (1820), Rhode Island Greening (1600), McIntosh (1870) and Jonathan (1820) along with Newton Pippin (1700).
It is best to store apples in a cool place such as the refrigerator, just bear in mind that they emit ethylene gas, which can cause other fruits and vegetables to spoil.
Select apples that are blemish free and place them in a tightly closed plastic bag. Poke a few holes in the bag to allow the ethylene gas to escape and place the bag in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator.
If you would like to order some heirloom apples, try the mail order company Applesource at www.applesource.com