"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Doug Kanter" > wrote
>>
>> "Nancy Young" > wrote
>
>>> This is strictly a coincidence, I had nothing to do with the fact
>>> that we wound up with Gala apples from Whole Foods earlier
>>> this week. They were to go into the red cabbage recipe. In
>>> making it I took a bite of the apple, so to speak ... it had a
>>> very nice texture and flavor. Coming from me, that's a real
>>> compliment, as I really don't care for apples. I would actually
>>> go out of my way to eat one of those apples, they were that
>>> good.
>>>
>>> So, either you got a really bad apple or I got a really good one.
>
>> I'm curious: If you go to a supermarket - not a boutique food store, but
>> a supermarket which targets walkin'-around slobs like everyone:
>>
>> 1) How many apple varieties are available *****NOW*****, not in July or
>> January, but *****NOW*****, late October.
>
> I don't really notice, but I'm pretty sure they are the same year
> round ... macs, grannies, red delicious, maybe galas ... that's about
> it. I'm a bad person to ask since we rarely buy apples. Other
> stores nearby probably have a wider selection as they have larger
> produce departments.
>
> The supermarket I frequent is not known for its produce, that is
> not to say it's typical.
>
> Oh, I know I've seen romes on occasion. Nasty apple for
> eating.
>
>> 2) Where are those apples from, if you happen to know?
>
> Don't know.
>
>> 3) Where are you from? I don't mean your street address. I mean you state
>> and/or province, and what country.
>
> Central NJ, USA.
>
> nancy
>

If the variety's the same year-round, then you're the victim of a syndrome I
can't explain. I'm from Rochester, and I'm acquainted with a guy who works
for one of the largest apple growers in the Northeast, Fowler Farms. He says
that at this time of year, they *always* have enough nice, new autumn apples
to ship to NJ, Long Island, or New England. Here, we can get about a dozen
varieties, all from the current harvest, all grown within 50 miles of here.

My company's headquarters is in Long Island, and when I visit, I'm usually
asked to bring apples. Like you, they only seem to get the lamest varieties,
usually from Washington State or overseas, and only those which ship well,
but don't have much taste.

Check the link below and see if there's a Wegman's supermarket nearby. If
so, check there for apples with Fowler Farms stickers on them. If the stores
are anything like the ones here, you'll be pleasantly surprised. And, if
they have Cortland apples, be prepared to eat nothing but apples for a
couple of months. Beginning in a month or so, you'll may notice a shinier
wax on the apples than you see now. Obviously, this is because the harvest
is over and the effort begins to preserve freshness as long as possible.
Fowler does a pretty good job of this. Empire apples tend to last well into
the spring. Cortlands taper off sooner.

http://www.wegmans.com/about/storeLocator/