The end of Honeycrisps
I decided to brave the Waverly Farmers Market this morning because I had run out of my beloved Honeycrisp apples. I say "brave" because regular market goers know that the Saturday before Thanksgiving is a sort of Black Saturday for the market, the busiest shopping day of the year.
I've never been on this day so I didn't quite believe it. (Busier than when corn is in season?) But it's true. At 7:30 a.m. the parking lot was so packed it had gridlocked. If you decide to go down to the market under the viaduct tomorrow, I urge you to go early.
Anyway, I had a long talk with...
...Dave Reid at Reid Orchard about what apples I should be buying at this point. I noticed the Honeycrisps had gotten quite small.
Dave has never been anything but honest with me, and he explained that the last of the Honeycrisps had been picked in September, and they don't age as well as some varieties. He recommended instead Pink Ladies and Fujis, both of which I know but have been overlooking in favor of the Honeycrisps as my official eating apple this fall. I bought a few of each to compare.
Honeycrisps only made their way on my radar a couple of years ago. The sign under the boxes says they are a cross between Keepsakes and an "unknown parent," but just now when I Googled them, I found they have their own Web site.
It says Honeycrisp is a cross between Macoun and Honeygold, developed in 1960 as part of the University of Minnesota apple breeding program.
Thank you, University of Minnesota.
(Photo by me)
Comments
Honeycrisps are the best by far. Thank you indeed, University of Minnesota. Now get to work on making them more robust so we can enjoy them year-round.
Posted by: KB | November 17, 2007 1:45 PM
I noticed the Honeycrisps had gotten quite small.
I've been enjoying them being smaller (I had stopped buying them when they were coming in really huge). I'm sorry to hear that the reason is because they're going to be gone soon.
Posted by: Hal Laurent | November 17, 2007 2:12 PM
I didn't realize these were available out here! I usually have a case sent to me from Wisconsin!
Posted by: Amy | November 18, 2007 5:04 PM
I was there Saturday at the same time. I haven't even tried to park on the parking lot in years.
I go one block down on Greenmount from 32rd street and turn right and then, if that block is full, turn left at the alley where the street is blocked. There is a lot on the left about half way up that never has more than 4 or 5 cars on it.
BTW, Dave Reid is my apple god...
Posted by: Janet | November 18, 2007 5:22 PM
Janet, that's very brave of you to reveal your parking secrets. :-)
Posted by: Hal Laurent | November 19, 2007 9:31 AM
Shows what I know. I thought this was going to be about cereal... isn't there a Honeycrisp breakfast cereal?
Posted by: Dan Taylor | November 20, 2007 12:06 PM
We were actually turned on to honeycrisps by a stocker at our local Safeway. All others now pale in comparison for me!
Posted by: Sean | November 20, 2007 1:08 PM
Found these delicious honeycrisps at Wegmans on yesterday. They were very large, approaching one pound each. I am having one for breakfast but cannot finish it. Very sweet and juicy and firm.
Posted by: Regina | November 26, 2007 8:02 AM