Fruits of Fall

Back where I grew up, fall was the time of year when magnificent colors would fill the trees, there would be a certain brisk bite and scent in the air, and it would be a fine time in general for being outside.

Fall also brings to mind apple harvests. While I love all kinds of fruits, I yearn for apples of old, not those strangely perfect Washington Red Delicious - which beneath their fine appearance, these days anyway, are bland and often times mealy. A few years back, I discovered Braeburn apples, and they served me well as both eating and cooking apples (mmmm apple crisp!).

A few years back, I traveled back to my home state and stumbled across a magnificent apple - the Honeycrisp, a hybrid cross between a Macoun and a Honeygold - and originates from the University of Minnesota (go Gophers!) For a time, it seemed HoneyCrisps were available only in Minnesota for a brief period post harvest - every now and again, desperate for good apple eating, I'd mail order in a box of Honeycrisps. Accustomed to having to settle for boring and common apple varieties at my local grocery store, imagine my surprise when I found a whole display of Honeycrisps the other day! I've stocked up and both I and my refrigerator are happy indeed. Incidentally, the limited availability of these applies likely has something to do with the fact that they are patented.