This blog is about my garden and the outdoors. I am new to photography but I am trying to show some of the pretty things that grow here in Michigan. I love the wild things who visit me and I dont mind if they eat a bit here and there. I like it more if they let me take their picture. As time goes on I think I will try to show you around the beautiful area that I live in as well as my garden. I try to use my own pictures as much as possible but will also use pictures from the web. If I inadvertently use your photo or work without permission please email me and I will remove it or give credit if you prefer. I will give credit when I know who the owner is. I would ask that anyone using my pictures do the same.
... I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.......Psalm23:6
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Thursday, October 16, 2014

HoneyCrisp...............

My favourite apple is now the Honeycrisp. Its delightfully sweet/sour just the right combination for me. It is a cultivated apple. What isn't these days. It was created at the University of Minnesota. It has much larger cells than most apples, which rupture when bitten to fill the mouth with juice. The skin is tough I think but they say the skin is good for you so I eat it anyway. It probably has a lot to do with it's juiciness. It is quite expensive relatively to other apples. There are reasons for this.
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From the time an apple tree is planted, it takes at least five to six years for it to produce fruit in commercial quantities. As demand has peaked in recent years, supply has lagged behind, sending prices up.
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there are added costs of growing this particular variety. Honeycrisp trees are somewhat needier than other types, requiring extra levels of care and maintenance that drive up the total cost of growing them.They need to grow in cooler climates and so Michigan is ideal as are other northern, cooler states.
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The apple is patented by the University of Minnesota, which this time around is attempting to maintain quality control by licensing the trees only to those growers located in ideal climates. Other apples have been ruined by growing in less than ideal places. I think that Granny Smith have declined a great deal since it was my favourite apple at one time. I then went on to Gala but that is only good when it is first picked in season. Honey Crisp is supposed to last well if kept cool.
We had a program on the local news that was telling about these apples. They said that unlike other apples they have to be harvested at least 3 times during the season rather than just once with all others. Makes it higher maintenence. I found that interesting. I am willing to pay the extra cost to have something I like and buy just 3 or 4 at a time. I have found myself eating apples again.
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I have to say that this litte extra makes it even better and I can even get Tristen enthused Mr won't eat anything

1 comment:

Magic Love Crow said...

These apples sound so good! I have to see if they are in Canada? 5-6 years for a tree to produce fruit? That's a long time! I try to have an apple a day ;o) Hugs ;o)