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| Apples |
| The first Zestar! should be ready to pick for Saturday's (August 30) market in downtown St. Paul Look for us there in stall 226 (the middle row) Also ripening about the same time as the Zestar! are Ginger Gold and Chestnut Crab. If you haven't tried either of these apples before, ask for a sample at a market. We may have some of these with us on Saturday, too. Zestar! are an early apple with great flavor and crispness. They are a new apple developed by the University of Minnesota & just starting to come into production. Ginger Gold are an early golden apple, great for baking & eating, they've mostly been grown east of Minnesota. Chestnut Crab are a sweet, crunchy crab the perfect size for a lunch box or a quick snack. Kids love this apple! |
We currently have 7 apple varieties in our orchard, chosen to please a
variety of tastes, and listed below in approximate order of their ripening. By
popular request, we added Keepsake & Sweet Sixteen trees to the orchard.
They should produce a small crop next year.
With all of our varieties closely planted in one block, we can't offer
pick-your-own for the apples. And, until the trees are more mature, we
don't have enough volume to warrant an on-farm store either. We hope to
be able to sell from the farm in a couple-few years. Meanwhile, look for our
sign at Farmers' Markets (that we'll list above during apple season). Times
& days for many markets can be found at www.stpaulfarmersmarket.com or
at www.minnesotagrown.com
Zestar! -- an early variety -- ripening about August 25 -- developed by the
University of Minnesota, with a sweet-tart flavor, crispness, AND shelf life
that most early apples can't match. Crispy & sweet with a bit of brown sugar
flavor -- you're going to love this apple!
Ginger Gold -- a crispy, early golden -- ripening about August 25 with the
Zestar! -- with a special sweet & spicy flavor that makes it great for baking
or drying, and a treat for fresh eating. Great paired with a sharp cheddar
cheese.
Chestnut Crab -- a large, sweet crab apple with great crunch & a nutty
flavor -- ripening in late August -- perfectly sized for the lunch box or a quick
snack. Also good for jellies and sauce. Your kids will love this apple -- and
be able to eat it completely.
Honeycrisp -- a new mid-season favorite, developed by the University of
Minnesota, and starting to be produced across the country for the
wholesale market. Ripening about September 15-20, this apple is setting a
new standard for fresh eating, Honeycrisp is sweet, juicy, and amazingly
crisp. Try a locally grown Honeycrisp & be amazed at the difference 2000
miles can make.
Haralson -- a Minnesota favorite that ripens in late September. Haralson
are crisp, juicy, and tart, but should not be sour. This is the ultimate pie,
crisp, or sauce apple for our family & the preferred fresh eating apple for
our daughter, who insists everything else is just too sweet. Haralson also
freezes very well. Great fresh eating for those who like a lively apple.
Honeygold -- a late golden apple, ripening about September 20-25. Sweet
& juicy for fresh eating, also good for baking, and excellent dried.
Regent -- a Minnesota developed long-time favorite -- ripening about
October 1 -- sweet with just a hint of tartness and crisp, for fresh eating,
baking, sauce & drying. Excellent keeper in the home refrigerator.
variety of tastes, and listed below in approximate order of their ripening. By
popular request, we added Keepsake & Sweet Sixteen trees to the orchard.
They should produce a small crop next year.
With all of our varieties closely planted in one block, we can't offer
pick-your-own for the apples. And, until the trees are more mature, we
don't have enough volume to warrant an on-farm store either. We hope to
be able to sell from the farm in a couple-few years. Meanwhile, look for our
sign at Farmers' Markets (that we'll list above during apple season). Times
& days for many markets can be found at www.stpaulfarmersmarket.com or
at www.minnesotagrown.com
Zestar! -- an early variety -- ripening about August 25 -- developed by the
University of Minnesota, with a sweet-tart flavor, crispness, AND shelf life
that most early apples can't match. Crispy & sweet with a bit of brown sugar
flavor -- you're going to love this apple!
Ginger Gold -- a crispy, early golden -- ripening about August 25 with the
Zestar! -- with a special sweet & spicy flavor that makes it great for baking
or drying, and a treat for fresh eating. Great paired with a sharp cheddar
cheese.
Chestnut Crab -- a large, sweet crab apple with great crunch & a nutty
flavor -- ripening in late August -- perfectly sized for the lunch box or a quick
snack. Also good for jellies and sauce. Your kids will love this apple -- and
be able to eat it completely.
Honeycrisp -- a new mid-season favorite, developed by the University of
Minnesota, and starting to be produced across the country for the
wholesale market. Ripening about September 15-20, this apple is setting a
new standard for fresh eating, Honeycrisp is sweet, juicy, and amazingly
crisp. Try a locally grown Honeycrisp & be amazed at the difference 2000
miles can make.
Haralson -- a Minnesota favorite that ripens in late September. Haralson
are crisp, juicy, and tart, but should not be sour. This is the ultimate pie,
crisp, or sauce apple for our family & the preferred fresh eating apple for
our daughter, who insists everything else is just too sweet. Haralson also
freezes very well. Great fresh eating for those who like a lively apple.
Honeygold -- a late golden apple, ripening about September 20-25. Sweet
& juicy for fresh eating, also good for baking, and excellent dried.
Regent -- a Minnesota developed long-time favorite -- ripening about
October 1 -- sweet with just a hint of tartness and crisp, for fresh eating,
baking, sauce & drying. Excellent keeper in the home refrigerator.
| Updated August 26, 2008 |
Apples by the numbers:
Each apple variety varies in weight, so all weights are
approximate.
3 medium apples = 1 lb.
1 pound peeled & sliced apples = 2 3/4 cups.
1/4 peck of apples = 2.5-3 lb. medium apples.
1/2 peck of apples = 5-6 lb. or 15-20 medium apples.
1 peck of apples = 10-12 lb.
1/2 bushel of apples = 20-24 lb.
1 bushel of apples = 40-48 lb.
1/2 peck of apples (5-6 lb.) makes 5 pints of applesauce.
1/2 bushel of apples makes 8-10 quarts of applesauce.
1 bushel of apples makes 15-20 quarts of applesauce.
5-7 medium apples makes 1 9-inch pie.
1/2 peck apples yields about 8 cups jelly.
Each apple variety varies in weight, so all weights are
approximate.
3 medium apples = 1 lb.
1 pound peeled & sliced apples = 2 3/4 cups.
1/4 peck of apples = 2.5-3 lb. medium apples.
1/2 peck of apples = 5-6 lb. or 15-20 medium apples.
1 peck of apples = 10-12 lb.
1/2 bushel of apples = 20-24 lb.
1 bushel of apples = 40-48 lb.
1/2 peck of apples (5-6 lb.) makes 5 pints of applesauce.
1/2 bushel of apples makes 8-10 quarts of applesauce.
1 bushel of apples makes 15-20 quarts of applesauce.
5-7 medium apples makes 1 9-inch pie.
1/2 peck apples yields about 8 cups jelly.
