What’s in Your Apple Cart?

This fall why not try some of these Minnesota-grown delights.*

Chestnut Crab—One of Minnesota’s best-kept secrets. It’s small and unattractive, but has wonderful flavor.

Sweet 16—One of the most unusual flavored apples in Minnesota. Very sweet with a flavor like cherry candy.

Honeycrisp—Minnesota’s premier eating apple. It has a well-balanced sweet/tart flavor and unusually crisp texture, which has been called “explosively crisp.” It’s also one of the best “keeping” apples, storing up to seven months in refrigeration.

Haralson—A Minnesota favorite, it has tart flavor, stores well, and is excellent for cooking.

Honeygold—A tasty yellow apple with an excellent sweet flavor and a crisp texture.

Regent—One of Minnesota’s newer high-quality apples. It has a delightful balance of sweet and tart with a firm, crisp texture and good storage.

Fireside—A Minnesota favorite with a sweet flavor and one that stores well.

Connell Red—This is a redder version of Fireside.

Keepsake—A small, late-ripening variety with unusual flavor, somewhat like sugar cane, and an excellent storage life.

Where to Find Them: Most grocery stores carry a variety of Minnesota-grown apples. For pick-your-own-freshness in Lake Country, visit Gilby’s Nursery and Orchard in Aitkin, from mid-August through October. Call for hours and information: (218) 768-4347; www.gilbysorchard.com.

*Apple profiles courtesy of the University of Minnesota Extension.