As the evenings wind down earlier with the falling sun and the nights become cooler, autumn is upon us. And with fall comes the wonderful flavors of the season…generally revolving around pumpkin spice or the bite of a fresh, crisp apple.
There is no other sensation like the first bite into a crisp, cold autumn apple. The snap of the skin, followed by a rush of juice and “tooth freeze” that makes you stop biting for a moment. But then you have to finish it, chewing into the sweetness until there is only a narrow core left.
Varieties of apples aren’t limited to the monster fruits you see in the grocery store. There are hundreds of antique heritage varieties, lovingly tended by orchardists who see past the lumpy, imperfect outside to uncover pure goodness and diversity.