|
The Apple Orchard
 Red, yellow or green; tart, sweet or sour; The Elegant Farmer offers you a guide to apples that will help you discover new flavors and enjoy old favorites during this fall’s apple picking season. The Elegant Farmer orchard manager and co-owner, Mike Bauer suggests  that you know what you are going to do with the apples such as eat or bake, consider the flavors you and your family like ranging from sweet to tart and how long you would store the apples. Then Bauer suggests, “Try, try, try. Taste as many varieties as you can to discover your favorites.”
Apple Varieties at The Elegant Farmer
- McIntosh the all purpose apple everyone enjoys
- Wisc. Granny a green taste treat that is crunchy & tart
- Spartan like a Mac only its deeper red, crisper and keeps longer
- Cortland the king of apples for pure white apple sauce and eating
- McCoun featuring the thinnest skin making it easy to eat
- Jonathan tarter than most with rich flavor and good for pies
 Red Delicious super for cider and eating not cooking
- Golden Delicious rich sweetness, tender skin, low acidity
- Empire McIntosh flavorful and keeps well
- Red Rome red color, hard & crisp, stores well
- Ida Red-THE apple pie apple because it stays firm even after baking
- Golden Russet with its deep golden color, sweet and rich flavor
Apple Storage
Apples are ideally stored at 32 degrees with 90% humidity. Some varieties will be crisp and sweet for weeks, even months if stored in the garage, porch or basement. Golden Delicious and Russets should be stored in plastic bags to prevent shriveling but The Elegant Farmer suggests that you still allow the apples to breath. If you’re looking for those that keep best the following are listed in order of those with the longest to the shortest freshness: Golden Russet, Spartan, Empire, Golden & Red Delicious, Red Rome, Ida Red, Wisc. Granny, Cortland, Jonathan, McCoun and McIntosh.
 “Wisconsin’s bountiful apple tradition has its roots not only in the region’s rich soil but the fond memories of the harvest embedded in generations of us Midwesterners that celebrate the land’s fall harvest. We invite you and your family to come and try your hand at apple picking. It’s fun for all ages.”
- John Bauer
|
|
|
