2023 CSA PROGRAM

2023 CSA PROGRAM


 2023 CSA UPDATES
 

Week of October 16, 2023

Autumn Hills Orchard

Thursday pickup-Golden Delicious, Spencer, and Suncrisp Apples

Friday pickupGolden Delicious, Spencer, Ida Red and Suncrisp Apples

Golden Delicious, Ida Red and Spencer-see description below

Suncrisp-Suncrisp is a large, juicy, yellow apple with orange-red striping and a yellow, crisp, and sweet-tart flesh making it a good fresh eating and cider apple. It ripens in October and can be kept for a few months.  Suncrisp is a newer apple whose parentage includes Cox’s Orange Pippin, Cortland, and Golden Delicious.

Waltham Fields Community Farm

Saturday pickup-HoneyCrisp, Idared, and Suncrisp Apples-see below for description

Wednesday pickup-HoncyCrisp, Idared, and Spencer Apples-see below for apple descriptions

Newton Communcity Fiarm

HoneyCrisp, Idared, and Golden Delicious Apples (see below for apple descriptions)

Week of October 9, 2023

Waltham Fields Community Farm (Saturday pickup)

Spencer and Idared Apples, Bosc Pears

Spencer and Idared Apples-see below for description

Bosc Pears-see below for description

Autumn Hills Orchard

HoneyCrisp, Golden Delicious and Idared Apples, Bosc and Potomoc Pears

HoneyCrisp (see below for description)

Golden Delicious-Though not related to Red Delicious, Golden Delicious shares its shape and many of its leading characteristics. Like the Red, Golden Delicious is a sweet, medium-to-large apple, with  pear-like flavor. It is an excellent keeper. Golden Delicious has a greenish-yellow skin that turns gold, and its yellow flesh is crisp and juicy.  Apple writer Frank Browning included Golden Delicious in his list of “20 prized apples” in his book Apples (1998, North Point Press), praising it as “exceptionally juicy” and because its flesh holds up when cooked. A good all-purpose apple, Golden Delicious excels as a dessert, salad, and cider apple.

IdaredIdared, with its bright crimson peel, is a large, crisp apple when first picked, with good flavor that becomes sweeter and more complex over time. After weeks or months in cold storage, it becomes a superb apple for sauce, pies, or as part of a cider blend. Its aromatic white flesh holds its shape when cooked, too.  Idared was developed and released in 1942 by Leif Verner, then head of horticulture at the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station in Moscow, Idaho. The apple’s name is derived from its state of origin, Idaho, and its brilliant red color. Idared is a cross between Jonathan and Wagener apples.

Newton Community Farm and Waltham Fields Community Farm

Macoun and Rhode Island Greening Apples, and Bosc Pears

Macoun and Bosc Pears-see below for description

Rhode Island Greening-Rhode Island Greening is an excellent pie and all-around cooking apple. It has a green peel and a flesh that is greenish-white with a tart flavor. This heirloom variety is a good substitute for Granny Smith. Usually it is ready for picking in September, but sweetens on the tree if picked in October.

Upswing Farm Tuesday and Thursday pickup

Bosc Pears, Kendall and Spencer Apples-see below for description

(Week of October 2, 2023

Upswing Farm (Thursday pickup) 

Macoun and Spencer Apples (see below for description)

Autumn Hills Orchard

Bosc Pears, Nova Spy Apples and Spencer Apples

Bosc Pears-Your Bosc Pear will have a unique taste and texture; Slightly acidic and lightly spicy – Tantalizing your taste buds and bringing you back for more. The white flesh of the Bosc is firm but juicy, crunchy and yet tender . . . it is perfect for eating fresh and fabulous for cooking.

Nova Spy Apples-See below for description

Spencer Apples-Spencer is a large, handsome, solid red or red blush over green, sweet-tart apple with crisp, juicy, greenish-white flesh. Although prized as fresh-eating apples, Spencers are excellent pie and sauce apples, as well. Spencers are not noted for a lengthy storage life, so enjoy them close to harvest in October.  Developed in 1926, and commercially released in 1959 by the British Columbia Experimental Station in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada, Spencer is a cross between McIntosh and Golden Delicious.

Newton Community Farm and Waltham Fields Community Farm

Cortland and Kendall Apples

Cortland Apples-see description listed below

Kendall Apples-Inside, green-white flesh is medium coarse and juicy, a bit tender. Kendall’s flavors are mild and sweet, with vinous notes, berries, and hints of plums and watermelon-flavored candy.  Compared to McIntosh Kendall is bigger, less tart, less crisp, and less complex, but it is clearly a member of the family.

Upswing (Tuesday pickup)

Macoun, Nova Spy, Wolf River

Macoun-see below for description

Nova Spy-The apple is large, red, crisp, and juicy. Its parentage includes Golden Delicious and Northern Spy, and it has the expected sweetness of Golden Delicious, but this is countered by the sharp tang of Northern Spy. This sweet-tart balance has hints of vanilla. Nova Spy stores well and is an excellent processing apple.

Wolf River-Wolf River is a large apple, weighing as much as one pound apiece. It is an outstanding cooking apple, and good in cider as well. Its pale yellow skin is covered in dull red, its flesh juicy and tender with a tart flavor. An unusual characteristic of Wolf River is that it can grow true from seed. It does not store well.  Wolf River dates back to about 1875, discovered along the river that gave it its name in Fremont, Wisconsin. It is a probable seedling of a Russian apple, Alexander.

Week of September 25, 2023

Autumn Hills Orchard

Macoun, Cortland, and Cox’s Orange Pippin (see below for descriptions)

Upswing (Tuesday and Thursday pickup), Newton Community Farm and Waltham Fields Community Farm

Macoun, Cortland, Cox’s Orange Pippin Apples

Cortland Apples

Underneath the surface, the flesh is white, fine-grained, aqueous, and soft with a crisp consistency.  The flesh also encases a central fibrous core filled with tiny black-brown seeds. Cortland apples are slightly sweeter than their McIntosh parent and are balanced with subtle tartness, creating a sweet, tangy, vinous taste. In addition to raw preparations, Cortland apples hold their shape well when cooked and can be incorporated into baked goods and desserts, including dumplings, crisps, cobblers, galettes, muffins, and pies.

Macoun Apples

The Macoun apple is a medium to large-sized apple, deep red over a green base. Many consider Macoun the best tasting apple, especially fresh from the tree. Macoun has become especially esteemed by connoisseurs in the Northeast for its crispy, juicy white flesh and rich, complex flavors of strawberry and spices. With its great flavor and distinctive boxy shape, Macoun is in great demand when it ripens.

Cox’s Orange Pippin Apples

Cox’s Orange Pippin apple has an orange-red hue and is lightly red-striped. It is a medium-sized apple with excellent flavor and a spicy or nutty fragrance, making it a favorite among cider makers. Cox’s Orange Pippin ripens in late September to early October.  It was developed in the United Kingdom around 1825 by Richard Cox. It was a very popular dessert apple in the 1800s, and it is enjoying a rise in popularity due to its outstanding flavor.

Week of September 18, 2023

Upswing (Thursday pickup), Newton Community Farm and Waltham Fields Community Farm

HoneyCrisp, Ginger Gold and Gala Apples

HoneyCrisp Apples-see below for description

Ginger Gold Apples-see below for description

Gala Apples-Gala is a red-orange apple with yellow striping, crunchy and juicy, with a sweet, pear-like flavor. Well-suited for snacking, salads, and baking, Gala is ready for picking in September. It tends to darken in color the longer it is stored.

Upswing Farm Tuesday Pickup

CrimsonCrisp and HoneyCrisp Apples and Bartlett Pears

CrimsonCrisp Apples-a firm, deep red-purple, and crunchy apple. Its crispy yellow flesh holds a sweet-tart flavor, making it a great fresh-eating apple as well as a good juice or cider variety.  It stores well for at least four months.

HoneyCrisp Apples-see below for description

Bartlett Pears-See below for description

Week of September 11, 2023

Autumn Hills Orchard

McIntosh Apples, HoneyCrisp Apples, and Bartlett Pears –See below for descriptions

Newton Community Farm and Waltham Fields Community Farm

Barltett Pears, HoneyCrisp, and McIntosh Apples

Upswing Farm Tuesday and Thursday Pickup

Bartlett Pears, HoneyCrisp and McIntosh Apples

Bartlett Pears-See below for description

McIntosh Apples-See below for description

HoneyCrisp Apples-are a well-balanced, sweet-tart taste, and explosively crisp, with a juicy texture, developed by the University of Minnesota’s apple program. Excellent for fresh eating and in salads.

Week of September 5, 2023

Newton Community Farm and Waltham Fields Community Farm

Bartlett Pears, McIntosh and Ginger Gold Apples

Bartlett Pears are the only pears that have a true pyriform, or pear shape, which has a rounded large bottom half and tapers to a smaller curved neck.  The flesh is aromatic, moist, cream-colored to ivory. Bartlett pears are crunchy, tart, and slightly gritty, but when allowed to sit out and fully ripen, they develop a juicy, smooth, buttery texture with a sweet flavor.

McIntosh Apples-see below for description

Ginger Gold Apples-see below for description

Upswing Farm (Tuesday pickup)

Sunrise Pears, McIntosh and Ginger Gold Apples 

Sunrise Pears are an early season Pear.  Flesh is creamy white, buttery, moderately fine in texture, and moderately juicy, similar to ‘Bartlett’.  Leave the fruit on the counter or in the refrigerator for a few days if you like a softer flesh.

McIntosh Apple’s color will vary, depending on the amount of sunlight exposure mixed with the time of season the fruits are harvested, but the surface also frequently showcases white lenticels and a smooth matte texture. Underneath the skin, the white to green-tinged flesh is dense, aqueous, and fine-grained with a crisp but soft and tender consistency. McIntosh apples are aromatic, emitting a honeyed, fruity, and spice-filled fragrance, and the flesh is sweet-tart with an old-fashioned apple cider taste.

Ginger Gold Apples-See below.

Week of August 29, 2023

Autumn Hills Orchard 

Ginger Gold, Paulared, Gravenstein, and Gala Apples (see description below) plus Somerset Grapes

Somerset Grapes have a full and delightful flavor. Some detect in it a hint of strawberry, and all agree that it is very sweet and delicious, superior in flavor to those that we generally find in the grocery. It also makes excellent juice.

Newton Community Farm and Waltham Fields Community Farm

Ginger Gold, Paulared and Gala-see description below

Upswing Farm

Ginger Gold, Paulared,  Gravenstein  (Tuesday Pickup) and Gala (Thursday Pickup) Apples 

Ginger Gold Apples are one of the first commercial apple varieties to ripen each year. They were discovered as a chance seedling growing in an orchard in Virginia in the late 20th century. They are crisp and flavorful — especially for an early “summer” apple. Ginger Golds are attractive, aromatic and have a gingery-sweet to mildly tart flavor. They are bright golden-green with flesh that is fine-textured, crisp and creamy white. This apple is great for snacks, salads and especially baking in pies.

Paula Red Apples-If you like tart apples, then a bite from a Paul Red boasts a sweet tart flavor with a hint of strawberry and pear. It is one of the earliest varieties to be harvested, and the first taste of fall for apple lovers. The firm flesh makes this apple great for eating raw. It also makes a great cooking apple.

Gravenstein Apples-originated in the 17th century or earlier!  The fruit has a burst of sweet/tart flavor.  They are versatile and delicious, and are perfect for munching fresh from the tree.  The Gravenstein apples have rebounded in popularity among consumers who are looking for a tasty apple early in the season.  

Gala Apples-emit a vibrant appearance. They are referred to as having a “perfumed, floral aroma” and have a mildly sweet flavor with a hint of acidity. The flesh often bears fruity and floral undertones, combined with nuances of vanilla, apple blossoms, and pears.

2022 WEEKLY SHARES:

October 10, 2022

Upswing Farm, Stearns Farm, and Oasis Farms, Tuesday Delivery

Drumlin Farms, Newton Community Farm

Fuji Apples, Spencer Apples, and Suncrisp Apples

Fuji apples have an extra sweet and sugary flavor.  Their flesh is dense, crisp, and juicy, with a creamy white color.  There is a nice crunch with every bite, and they are great for eating fresh or in a tasty fruity salad.    

Spencer Apples are considered an all purpose variety and are well suited for raw and cooked preparations.  They have a sweet, subtly tart flavor and taste great fresh or blended into smoothies. 

Suncrisp Apples are firm and dense and crisp, and have a sharp, subtly sweet and tart flavor, with floral nuances and notes of pear and honey.   The skin is thick and chewy.  The flesh resits browning when sliced.  Great to eat raw.  

October 3, 2022

Upswing Farm, Stearns Farm, and Oasis Farms, Tuesday Delivery

Drumlin Farms, Newton Community Farm

Ida Red Apples and Golden Delicious Apples

Ida Red Apples are both sweet and tart, juicy yet crisp and firm. They have a sprightly, aromatic, and refreshing flavor. This apple is famous for its excellent cooking and baking qualities. Ida Reds are particularly good for baked apples, since they hold their shape when cooked. They can also be used to make naturally pink applesauce if the skins are left on. Don’t limit them to cooking, however, since they are also good apples to eat fresh as is or in salads. They pair well with strong, soft cheeses such as Roquefort and other blue cheese. Ida Red apples are a wonderful storage variety; under proper cool, dry conditions, they can keep for several months.

Golden Delicious Apples have a balanced sweet-tart aromatic flavor, which has been described as honeyed. The sweet-tartness of the Golden Delicious means this apple is a good fresh eating variety. Fresh, raw apple slices may be added to green salads, fruit salads, or grain salads. Golden Delicious apples also have the necessary acid content and stability for baking. They can be baked into crisps, crumbles, tarts, cakes, and breads. Apple slices may also be cooked down into preserves and butters, or pureed into sauces and soups. The Golden Delicious pairs well with savory items, such as onions, cabbages, pork, cheeses and strong herbs. Add slices to top burgers and sandwiches. Finally, this versatile apple can also be juiced or dried.

September 26, 2022

Waltham Fields Community Farm

Mcintosh and Cortland Apples, and Bosc Pears (see below)

Upswing Farm, Stearns Farm, and Oasis Farms, Tuesday Delivery

Drumlin Farms, Newton Community Farm

Kendall Apples, Bosc Pears, and Cortland Apples (see below)

Kendall apples are large red apples, and inside, the green-white flesh is medium coarse and juicy, and a bit tender. Kendall’s flavors are mild and sweet, with vinous notes, berries, and hints of plums and watermelon-flavored candy.

Compared to McIntosh Kendall is bigger, less tart, less crisp, and less complex, but it is clearly a fan favorite.  Great to eat raw, but also makes a great dessert apple.

Bosc Pears are Crisp and Woodsy with a Honey Sweetness.  Known for their warm cinnamon color, it is often called the “aristocrat of pears”.  They are medium to large in size and are oblong in shape with a rounded bottom that gradually tapers to an elongated neck. 

September 19, 2022

Drumlin Farm, Waltham Fields Community Farm, and Newton Community Farm 

Upswing Farm, Stearns Farm, Oasis Springs Farm 

Honeycrisp Apples, (see below) Cortland Apples, and Empire Apples

Cortland Apples-Underneath the surface, the flesh is white, fine-grained, aqueous, and soft with a crisp consistency.  The flesh also encases a central fibrous core filled with tiny black-brown seeds. Cortland apples are slightly sweeter than their McIntosh parent and are balanced with subtle tartness, creating a sweet, tangy, vinous taste. In addition to raw preparations, Cortland apples hold their shape well when cooked and can be incorporated into baked goods and desserts, including dumplings, crisps, cobblers, galettes, muffins, and pies.

Empire Apples are a small varietal with a slightly lopsided, round to ovate shape. They are a cross between two well-known varieties, red delicious and mcintosh apples. Highly favored for their sweet-tart flavor and crisp, dense flesh, well suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The multi-purpose apple can be consumed straight, out of hand, or it can be sliced and tossed into salads as the flesh retains its white hue for extended periods. The apples can also be sprinkled with lemon juice to prolong their white appearance and are popularly chopped and mixed into grain bowls, slaws, fruit dishes, overnight oats, and oatmeal.

September 12, 2022

Upswing Farm, Stearns Farm, and Oasis Farms, Tuesday Delivery

Drumlin Farms, Newton Community Farm, Waltham Fields Community Farm

Trio of Fall Apples-Mcintosh, Gala, and Honeycrisp (see below)

Mcintosh apples’s color will vary, depending on the amount of sunlight exposure mixed with the time of season the fruits are harvested, but the surface also frequently showcases white lenticels and a smooth matte texture. Underneath the skin, the white to green-tinged flesh is dense, aqueous, and fine-grained with a crisp but soft and tender consistency. McIntosh apples are aromatic, emitting a honeyed, fruity, and spice-filled fragrance, and the flesh is sweet-tart with an old-fashioned apple cider taste

Gala apples emit a vibrant appearance. They are referred to as having a “perfumed, floral aroma” and have a mildly sweet flavor with a hint of acidity. The flesh often bears fruity and floral undertones, combined with nuances of vanilla, apple blossoms, and pears.

September 5, 2022

Upswing Farm, Thursday Pickup

Trio of apples, Ginger Gold, Paula Red, and Honeycrisp, Bartlett Pears, and Flavor Heart Plouots

Drumlin Farm, Waltham Fields Community Farm, and Newton Community Farm -Wednesday Delivery

Trio of apples, Ginger Gold, Paula Red, and Honeycrisp, Bartlett Pears, and Flavor Heart Plouots

Flavor Heart Pluots- a heart shaped fruit with very dark, purple-red skin and yellow flesh.  The flavor is pleasantly sweet.  Leaving it on your counter for a few days will “soften it up”, or pop it directly in your refrigerator for a cool treat.  

Upswing Farm, Stearns Farm, Oasis Springs Farm -Tuesday Delivery

Trio of apples-Ginger Gold, Paula Red, and Honeycrisp, Bartlett Pears, and Pluots

Honeycrisp Apples- A well-balanced sweet-tart taste, and explosively crisp, juicy texture, developed by the University of Minnesota’s apple program. Excellent for fresh eating and in salads.

August 29, 2022

Waltham Fields Community Farm Saturday Delivery

Ginger Gold Apples (see below) and Sugar Giant Peaches (see below)

Stearns Farm Friday Delivery

Ginger Gold Apples, (see below) Sugar Giant Peaches (see below), and Flavor Supreme Plouts

Flavor Supreme Pluots-A pluot is a fruit that combines the plum and the apricot.  The name says it all. A firm, crunchy texture and superb flavor.  It has also been known to be called “Dinosaur Egg”.  Pluots are delicious eaten alone, but they can also replace plums, apricots, or cherries in pies, cakes, and jam.  These are also fantastic as a cooked chutney or sweet sauce with pork or chicken.  

Upswing Farm

Thursday Delivery-Ginger Golds and Sugar Giant Peaches

Sugar Giant has white melting flesh. It’s a freestone. It’s s a subacid type which means that the taste on your tongue is not tangy. It’s mellow, very sweet, kind of like honey. It was developed by Zaiger Genetics in Modesto, California.

Drumlin Farm

Ginger Gold Apples are one of the first  commercial apple varieties to ripen each year. They were discovered as a chance seedling growing in an orchard in Virginia in the late 20th century. They are crisp and flavorful — especially for an early “summer” apple.  Ginger Golds are attractive, aromatic and have a gingery-sweet to mildly tart flavor. They are bright golden-green with flesh that is fine-textured, crisp and creamy white. This apple is great for snacks, salads and especially baking in pies.

Early Italian Plums features dark purple skin.  These oval glaucous fruits are super sweet and perfect for fresh eating and canning, and are also well known for drying into delectable prunes! The freestone flesh is a yellowish-green when fresh and turns a gorgeous red wine hue when cooked.  Many people wait all year for these gems to make a famous torte recipe from the New York Times!

Bartlett Pears are the only pears that have a true pyriform, or pear shape, which has a rounded large bottom half and tapers to a smaller curved neck.  The flesh is aromatic, moist, cream-colored to ivory. Bartlett pears are crunchy, tart, and slightly gritty, but when allowed to sit out and fully ripen, they develop a juicy, smooth, buttery texture with a sweet flavor.

August 29, 2022 Newton Community Farm

Received Ginger Gold Apples, Bartlett Pears,  and Gloria Peaches

Gloria Peaches from Rutgers University, are a large, highly colored, yellow-fleshed freestone peach.  The fruit is very firm, low acid, with high sugar content and excellent dessert quality. They are also great fresh from the tree!

August 29, 2022 Waltham Fields Community Farm

Received Ginger Gold Apples, Bartlett Pears, Early Italian Plums, and Red Gold Nectarines

Red Gold Nectarines are a yellow freestone fruit that has a beautiful red blushed skin that covers a firm, juicy flesh.  Incredibly refreshing on a hot summer day, I’ve read that people will “line up” in order to get their hands on a Red Gold Nectarine, because they are “sweet, tangy and juicy- irresistible.”

August 29, 2022- Tuesday pickup   Stearns Farm, Upswing Farm, and Oasis Spring Farm

Red Gold Nectarines are a yellow freestone fruit that has a beautiful red blushed skin that covers a firm, juicy flesh.  Incredibly refreshing on a hot summer day, I’ve read that people will “line up” in order to get their hands on a Red Gold Nectarine, because they are “sweet, tangy and juicy- irresistible.” 

Gloria Peaches (Upswing Only) from Rutgers University, are a large, highly colored, yellow-fleshed freestone peach.  The fruit is very firm, low acid, with high sugar content and excellent dessert quality. They are also great fresh from the tree!

Sweet’N Up Peaches (Stearns and Oasis) come from the USDA peach breeding program at Kearneysville, West Virginia.  The variety is named for its characteristic upright tree form.  The fruit is large, firm and freestone with excellent color and fruit quality. 

Ginger Gold Apples are one of the first  commercial apple varieties to ripen each year. They were discovered as a chance seedling growing in an orchard in Virginia in the late 20th century. They are crisp and flavorful — especially for an early “summer” apple.  Ginger Golds are attractive, aromatic and have a gingery-sweet to mildly tart flavor. They are bright golden-green with flesh that is fine-textured, crisp and creamy white. This apple is great for snacks, salads and especially baking in pies.

August 22, 2022- Drumlin Farms, Newton Community Farm, Stearns Farm, Upswing Farm, and Oasis Spring Farm

Summer Apples and Peaches-a great combination!

Starfire Peaches-have a nectar-sweet taste and a golden yellow flesh. This peach balances sugar and acid for a well rounded flavor. This large, beautiful fruit is a freestone variety and is great for eating fresh, canning, or making preserves.

Paula Red Apples-If you like tart apples, then a bite from a Paul Red boasts a sweet tart flavor with a hint of strawberry and pear. It is one of the earliest varieties to be harvested, and the first taste of fall for apple lovers. The firm flesh makes this apple great for eating raw. It also makes a great cooking apple.

Ginger Gold Apples= are one of the first commercial apple varieties to ripen each year. They were discovered as a chance seedling growing in an orchard in Virginia in the late 20th century. They are crisp and flavorful — especially for an early “summer” apple. Ginger Golds are attractive, aromatic and have a gingery-sweet to mildly tart flavor. They are bright golden-green with flesh that is fine-textured, crisp and creamy white. This apple is great for snacks, salads and especially baking in pies.

August 22, 2022- Waltham Fields Community Farm

In addition to the fruits listed above, they also received:

Red Haven Peaches-have almost fuzzless skin and a firm, yellow textured creamy flesh.  It was first introduced in 1940 and was created by Dr. Stanley Johnston of Michigan State University.  It is fantastic fresh, but also good for canning and baking, as because it is a freestone peach, it is easy to slice up and remove the pit.

 

August 17, 2022-Drumlin Farms

Red Haven Peaches-An excellent free stone peach, with red-blushed yellow skin and firm, sweet, yellow flesh.  Due to the great quality and taste, they are ideal for eating, but also great for canning and freezing.  Redhaven peaches were developed in the 1930s and released in the 1940s, making it the first commercial red-skinned peach variety.  It is now one of the most commonly grown peaches in the world!

Ginger Gold Apples are one of the first  commercial apple varieties to ripen each year. They were discovered as a chance seedling growing in an orchard in Virginia in the late 20th century. They are crisp and flavorful — especially for an early “summer” apple.  Ginger Golds are attractive, aromatic and have a gingery-sweet to mildly tart flavor. They are bright golden-green with flesh that is fine-textured, crisp and creamy white. This apple is great for snacks, salads and especially baking in pies.

August 10th, 2022 Drumlin Farms

Summer Beaut Nectarines

A nectarine that’s a slice above the rest! This variety is an exceptional early choice for nectarine lovers. The red/yellow fruit has a pleasing firm texture, lots of juice and bright gold flesh. The fruit is great for fresh eating, baking and canning/freezing. Freestone. 

John Boy Peaches

The John Boy® peach is a favorite freestone peach variety.  The fruit is large (when it runs!) and delicious.  In 1981, Ed Clendening’s son, John, noticed that a branch on a Loring peach tree had ripened earlier than the other green peaches and so created the John Boy® variety from this branch. Freestone.

AU Rosa Plums

AU  Rosa is a large, firm, high quality plum with red skin and yellow flesh. AU Rosa plum is a Santa Rosa style Japanese plum developed at Auburn University.   The AU Rosa has proven its ability to produce high yields of excellent quality fruit where other varieties have struggled. It is an early maturing cultivar that produce fruit of excellent size and quality. It is suitable for eating fresh and for jam, baking, canning, freezing, or jelly.  

August 3rd, 2022 Drumlin Farms

Our first fruit share of the season contains a trio of early ripening fruit – Yellow Transparent Apples, Silver Gem Nectarines and Apricots.

Yellow Transparent are a soft early season apple and are named for their pale-yellow skin. They are light, sweet and refreshing. People are often surprised in New England that they ripen so early. They originated in Russia and were brought to the United States in the mid 1800’s. They should be stored in the refrigerator as they don’t last as long as the more hardy fall varieties. Many tout this apple makes the “most creamy” applesauce” due to their texture.

Silver Gem is a sweet, medium sized, white-fleshed early season nectarine. They ripen about two weeks earlier than Redhavens and were developed by the Rutgers Tree fruit Breeding Program. Often thought of as the sweetest white-fleshed nectarine. Many people believe this is one of the best tasting nectarines out there.

The apricots are a medium sized fruit with a gorgeous bright-orange color. They have an exceptional sweet and mellow flavor with a slightly firm flesh, making it great to eat right from the tree. When cooked or preserved, they release sugars that lend themselves beautifully to cakes, pastries, and jams.A