Now’s the season for apple picking and this weekend would be a beautiful time to go to a local orchard and pick your own. They are always best when they are fresh off the tree. I might be a little biased but I think Michigan has the best apples around!
The apples that we buy in the grocery store during the winter, spring and summer have most likely been sitting in cold storage for up to 10 months and may have travelled from far and wide (yuck). I think I just bought a bag for my kids’ lunches that was probably picked last fall. They felt firm but the texture inside was mealy and disgusting, very disappointing. As apples sit their cell structure starts to break down leaving the texture much to be desired.
What is your favorite variety? When picked fresh off the tree, I’d have to say Golden Delicious is mine. Certain kinds make for good eating and some make for good baking. Here are a few Michigan varieties to try:
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Great for sinking your teeth into right off the tree: |
Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Fuji, Braeburn, Empire, Gala, Winesap, Jonagold McIntosh, Granny Smith |
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Excellent for baking (good texture, holds shape): |
Golden Delicious, Northern Spy, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Rome Beauty, Idared, Jonathan, Granny Smith |
There are plenty of local orchards to choose from, for example, Porter’s Orchard in Goodrich or Spicer Orchards in Fenton. Pack up the family and go and while you’re there don’t forget to buy some freshly made cinnamon sugar donuts. I’m not sure if that’s not the best part of the whole trip!
(Source: http://www.theyummylife.com/Apple_Fact_Sheet)