Fresh apples and other fruits can develop bruises, blemishes, or other defects because of poor growth or rough handling. They are sometimes available at bargain prices.
_Know Your Apples_ VARIETY SEASON DESCRIPTION USE (Size, color, and flavor) Raw General Baking cooking whole
Cortland October to Medium to large. Bright • • March striped red. Juicy, moderately tart, crisp, tender, fragrant. Red Delicious October to Medium to large. Deep red, • April five knobs on blossom end. Sweet, firm, tender, fragrant. Golden Delicious October to Medium to large. Yellow. • • March Sweet, firm, crisp, tender. Grimes Golden October to Small to medium. Yellow with • • February small dark specks. Moderately juicy, slightly tart, firm, crisp, tender, fragrant. Jonathan October to Small to medium. Deep red. • • February Juicy, moderately tart, tender, crisp, fragrant. McIntosh October to Medium. Bright dark red with • • March stripes. Juicy, moderately tart, tender, crisp, fragrant. Northern Spy October to Large. Bright striped red. • • • March Juicy, moderately tart, firm, crisp, tender, fragrant. Rome Beauty November Large. Yellow mingled with • • to May red. Juicy, slightly tart, firm, rather crisp. Stayman November Medium to large. Dull striped • • • to April red. Juicy, tart, firm, crisp. Winesap January to Small to medium. Deep bright • • • May red with small scattered white dots. Juicy, slightly tart, hard, crisp, fragrant. Yellow Newtown February Yellow. Juicy, moderately • • to June tart, hard, crisp. York Imperial October to Medium to large. Light or • • • April purplish red over yellow. Lopsided shape, usually. Slightly tart, hard, crisp.
[Illustration: BN-32499, BN-32525 Red Delicious—fragrant, sweet, and an excellent choice for eating out of hand—combines well with other raw foods, as in cabbage-apple salad (p. 9).]
[Illustration: BN-32141, BN-32459 Jonathan, one of many popular varieties that can liven up your general cooking, gives this cobbler a flavor boost. For the recipe, see page 14.]
[Illustration: BN-32140, BN-32458 Tart, firm Rome Beauty is a classic choice for dishes such as baked apples that call for apples that retain their shape when cooked. The recipe is on page 11.]