
IN SEASON, apples are available at the store or for U-Pick (a favorite for the kids). Just purchase a bag at the store and you're on your way.
Heirloom Apples
At the Orchard at Altapass, the answer to that question is “The Clinchfield Railroad.” Creighton Lee Calhoun, noted pomologist and author of Old Southern Apples, defines heirloom apples as those varieties that were grown prior to the time when “groceries” became the main source of fruit for most people, which he believes was the late 1920’s. Many of our apple trees were planted by the original owners, making them heirlooms in every sense of the word.
The geography of the Orchard is well suited for apple growing. Located on a southeast-facing slope, it is frost free most of the time. On crisp spring nights when the blossoms are susceptible to frost, cold air slides down the mountain, where it is replaced at the Orchard by warm air. The rising sun likewise helps to protect the young fruit by quickly warming the slope at sunrise.
The earliest apple to ripen is the Yellow Transparent in June, the latest, York. And in between bushels of the over 25 varieties available. Some of the favorites:
A Word About Our Apples
Our Varieties
VARIETY | AVAILABILITY | FLAVOR | USES | NOTES |
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early Aug |
semi-tart | eating~cooking |
Apples red with dark stripes~ flesh is white, firm~juicy |
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late July | semi-tart | eating~baking |
cross between Jonathan & Grimes Golden~ smooth cherry red~crisp |
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Sept | sweet | eating~cooking | medium w/maroon-red blush over light green |
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Sept | sweet | eating | cross between Kidd's Orange Red & Golden Delicious |
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Aug | sharp-sweet | eating~baking~cooking | mild yet sharper than Golden Delicious~stores well |
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Sept-Oct | sweet | eating~baking | golden w/red blush~crisp |
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Sept | sweet |
eating~cooking~juice~ apple butter |
parent to Golden Delicious~golden color |
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Sept | sweet-sour | eating~cooking | green-yellow w/crimson, brindled color~crisp |
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mid July | tart | applesauce~baking | smooth red, slightly conical~does not keep well |
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early Oct | sweet | eating~cooking | large~red skin~stores well |
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early Oct | semi-sweet | eating | large~greenish yellow w/red blush~juicy, tender |
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late July | tart | applesauce | small greenish |
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Aug-Sept | sweet | eating~applesauce |
whitish yellow to greenish blushed w/red~firm, juicy~ crisp |
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Sept | sweet | eating~cooking | deep red skin~does not store well |
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Sept-Oct | sweet | eating~cooking | med to large w/golden brown russeted skin~stores well |
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Sept-Oct | tart/sweet | eating~baking | medium-grained~light yellow w/green~crisp |
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late Sept | mildly sweet | baking~drying | large, uniquely oblong w/deep black-red skin~crisp |
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Sept-Oct | tart~crunchy | eating~sauces~baking |
red conical w/crimson stripes~ stores well |
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Aug-Sept | sweet | eating~cooking~baking | medium size~mottled skin w/red stripes |
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Sept-Oct | sweet | eating~baking | wine color w/gold russeting at stem~stores weeks |
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late July | sweet | eating~cooking | aka Summer Queen~conical w/red & green skin |
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late Sept | tart | cooking~drying | large~only fair eating |
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Sept-Oct | tart-sweet |
baking~cooking~applesauce~ cider~jams |
sweetens over time~stores extremely well |