Adam's Apples

Triumph

2026-11-09T10:48:34.024-05:00

Today I am sampling some medium-sized red apples, many oblate, with a blush that is deep and purplish in some places. ¶

Triumph's stem well is filled with russet that varies (from sample to sample) from green to brown, and there are many small light lenticel dots sprinkled throughout the blush.

Quadropomia too

2026-11-07T14:27:57.636-05:00

Recap: Last month I invited you to spot the ringer in this group of four apples from Indiana farmer David Doud. ¶

The quartet consists of three new apples from the Midwest Apple Improvement Association and one apple that is more than 100 years old.

Sharon

2026-11-05T09:00:17.207-05:00

These large apples, oblate and wide, wear a striped red blush over the usual green-inflected yellow. On some examples the green is more pronounced than on others. ¶

The blush includes saturated streaks, and lenticels that are more tactile than visual: tiny raised bumps.

Apple of the day

2026-11-03T13:25:00.445-05:00

A civic-minded Macoun

Cordera

2026-11-03T12:01:21.616-05:00

These apples are large, classically shaped, and slightly ribbed. The partial orange blush, streaky in spots, is over green-yellow, accented with light lenticels. ¶

They are fragrant, and some have a little russet in their stem wells.

MAIA 3-89

2026-10-31T08:38:23.385-04:00

A TRICK, OR A TREAT?

Imagine my surprise at seeing a russet apple among those from the Midwest Apple Improvement Association.

MAIA is a modern-day breeding program that develops varieties with commercial potential. ¶

One can say (I would!) that an aromatic russet variety should command market share. Nonetheless, promoting one in today's environment would be a bold move indeed.

But not so fast.

Tioga

2026-10-29T11:55:33.295-04:00

Today we have a large oblate apple, its yellow ribs blending gently with the spring-green valleys between. ¶

It wears a swath of coppery russet like a bicorn hat radiating from the well where sits a short stubby stem. ¶

There are crackles of russet on one side, some darker green streaks, and dark grey lenticel dots across the field. There's a smattering of harmless flyspeck (which has nothing to do with flies) as well.

Packin' it in

2026-10-28T23:59:12.519-04:00

This week is the very last for the suburban farmers markets that have served us since June. Urban markets will run through the American Thanksgiving. ¶

In Arlington this afternoon, the vendors were breaking down their canopies and booths as I arrived. But you could still have bought any of twenty-one kinds of apples:

MAIA 1284

2026-10-27T12:45:38.296-04:00

Today we stray into speculative territory. MAIA 1284 has not been released by the Midwest Apple Improvement Association.

It may never be. ¶

Should it? You be the judge of its unusual flavor set.

Scruffy

2026-10-24T12:22:24.355-04:00

Red, ribbed, and russeted: Scruffy's blush, and dull-yellow unblushed peel, peers out from behind fractal-edged russet that seems to be spreading from pole to pole. ¶

It is hefty and sprinkled with russeted lenticel dots (and less-obvious "clean" ones).

The example in my photo is especially lopsided.