As Summer winds down, new flavours begin to pop up: early apples are starting to come in! The farm market at Forsythe Family Farms 2009 Inc currently has Paula Red and Ginger Gold apples in stock. (Remember to store them in your refrigerator to keep them crisp.)
Paula Red is a variety that actually began as a seedling next to an orchard of McIntosh apples. They are bright red with some yellow and tan spots, and the skin often has a dusty sheen. The flavour is not too sweet and not too tart, and comparable to that of strawberries. Paula Reds are excellent for eating on their own, as well as baking or cooking. They become very soft when cooked, which means they cook down perfectly into sauces, but makes them less suited for pies. When making applesauce with Paula Red apples, very little sugar generally needs to be added.
If you're interested in giving homemade apple sauce a try, consider this recipe from FramedCooks.com: http://www.framedcooks.com/2012/09/homemade-applesauce.html
Ginger Gold was first discovered growing near a Golden Delicious tree, in the orchards of a farmer named Ginger Harvey in Virginia. This variety (a mix of Golden Delicious and Albemarle Pippen) was named after the grower and its parent apple.
Ginger Gold apples are a favourite around the Forsythe household. You can visit a quick blog post Leslie shared about the Ginger Gold last Fall: http://forsythefamilyfarms.com/ginger-gold-apples-my-favorite-early-apple/
These apples will soon be going into cider
Ginger Gold apples have become a very popular variety as it is the first yellow apple to ripen in the Fall, and is often described as "one of the best-tasting early-season apples." Ginger Golds are large and start out a very pale green, though if left on the tree they will ripen to a soft yellow with a slightly waxy appearance. The flesh resists browning more than most varieties and has a mild flavour with a tart finish. They are excellent for eating out of hand, but can be used for most other cooking and baking purposes.
ProduceOasis.com has shared a recipe for Ginger Gold Apple Crisp worth checking out: http://www.produceoasis.com/Recipe/ViewRecipe/TabId/295/Rid/1613/Ginger-Gold-Apple-Crisp.aspx
Stop by the farm market at Forsythe Family Farms 2009 Inc to pick up some of these delicious early-season apples and browse through the rest of their baked goods, jam, honey, and the freshest fruits and vegetables.
The Corn Maze is open this weekend.
Forsythe Family Farms 2009 Inc will be OPEN Labour Day Monday
9:30 - 5:30 with all weekend activities available