Its officially apple season in Washington! This week we are seeing more and more varieties of organic apples coming in from around the state.
Organic Ambrosia Apples
Organic Ambrosia Apples were originally developed in British Columbia in the early 1990′s after being discovered in the Mennell’s apple orchard growing between a row of Jonagold Apples and a Golden Delicious tree. The are a sweet,low-acid apple with a marvelous aroma. They are very crisp and juicy,rivaling Honeycrisps in crunch and distinct flavor. They are also an all-purpose apple,equally good for baking,salads,or eating out of hand.
Organic Braeburn Apples are sweet,crisp,spicy,and excellent for baking. About 10 years ago I made a deep-dish apple pie for a family dinner using Braeburn Apples. Pardon my immodesty when I tell you that my nephews,Bill and Charlie,still talk about how amazing it was. I tell them “Braeburn apples,brown sugar,fresh ginger,and cardamom”. But,then again,it’s hard to make a Braeburn taste bad.
Organic Jonagold Apples are another good baking apple,crisp and tangy,especially suited for applesauce,which I like to serve hot &spiced for dessert. Jonagold’s are only available for a short season Sept-Nov and don’t store very well,so enjoy them while they are crisp and fresh.
Grant Gibbs brought in some Organic MacIntosh Apples last week. These aromatic little apples were originally developed in the late 1800′s by a gentleman farmer in Ontario. With deep red skins and tender white flesh,MacIntosh apples don’t bake very well,losing their shape and turning to mush in pies,but they give apple cider wonderful sweet spicy flavor and are the perfect size for brown bag lunches. They aren’t keepers,so enjoy them now.
Organic Honeycrisp Apples
Other Washington Grown apples in the store include Organic Honeycrisps (and,at $2.99 a pound,we are beating the price being offered in many supermarkets for non-organic Honeycrisps!),Organic Fuji Apples, Organic Gala Apples,Organic Gingergold Apples,and Organic Granny Smith Apples.
Organic Concorde and Crimson Pears
Washington-Grown Organic Pears are also in season,with D’anjou Pears,Crimson Pears,Bartlett Pears,and Concorde Pears filling in the gaps left by the end of summer stonefruits.
Other local produce to enjoy while the season lasts:Chestnuts and Filberts from Cascade Walnut,Organic Romanesco Broccoli,and Organic Green Beans
Organic Green Beans
from Mother Flight Farm. Organic Cucumbers and Summer Squash from Skagit Flats Farm are finished for the year,but Organic Lettuce should hold out for another week or so,depending on the weather. Locally grown Organic Winter Squash is being harvested,but with overall volume down from last year –a late,cool summer has left many farmers with smaller crops this year.
Mother Flight Farm and Hedlin Farm are providing us with Organic Jack ‘O Lanterns this year. don’t forget to guess the weight on Mother Flight’s giant pumpkin. You could win free lunch from our deli!
This Weeks Top Deals:
Organic Braeburn Apples –$1.69 lb
Organic Jonagold Apples –$1.49 lb
Organic D’Anjou Pears (arriving Tuesday) –$1.29 lb
Organic Broccoli –$1.79 lb
Organic Zucchini –$1.49 lb
Organic Russet Potatoes –89¢ lb
Organic Turnips –$1.69 lb
Organic Jack O’Lanterns –29¢ lb
Organic Pomegranates
Locally Grown Organic Asian Pears - Jumbo sized!
Organic Plums &Pears
