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Apples For Every Taste
The old saw about an apple a day notwithstanding, an apple only gives you about 10 percent of your daily requirement for vitamin C and a little bit of calcium. But unpeeled apples are high in fiber, low in calories, and delicious - a healthy dessert choice. Grocery stores used to stock just a few apple varieties, but in recent years, tasty hybrids and imports have invaded the apple aisle. The International Apple Institute offers these suggestions:
| Variety | Appearance | Taste | Best Uses | Availability |
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| Akane | bright red | crispy, juicy, sweet-tart | all-purpose | late Aug.-Sept., primarily in Northwest |
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| Cortland | red w/green highlights | tart, tender | snack, salad, baking | fall to spring, East to Midwest
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| Crispin/ Mutsu | yellow-green | sweet, crisp | all purpose | year-round, primarily in the East
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| Criterion | yellow | sweet, mild | snack, salad | Oct.-Dec. nationwide
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| Elstar | bright red, orange, and yellow | sweet-tart | snack, salad, baking | Oct.-Dec. nationwide
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| Empire | dark red w/red blush | crispy, juicy, mildly tart | snack, salad | fall to spring, East to Midwest
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| Gala | orange-yellow | sweet | snacks, salads | mid-Aug.-Dec., nationwide
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| Gingergold | yellow, smooth finish | sweet, crisp | all-purpose | -late July to early Sept. in Virginia
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| Gravenstein | red-striped | moderately tart | snacks, salad, baking | -late summer, early fall, West Coast
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| Idared | red | mildly tart, firm, juicy | salads, baking, cooking | -Sept. to early spring, mainly East to Midwest
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| Jerseymac | bright red | juicy, medium-firm | all-purpose | late summer to early Sept. nationwide
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| Jonagold | bright red over gold | sweet, tangy, juicy | snacks, salads | end Sept.-Oct. nationwide
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| Jonamac | deep red | tart | snacks, cooking | Sept., primarily Northeast
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| Jonathan | light red w/yellow or purple highlights | rich, tartish | all-purpose | fall to spring, Midwest
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| Lodi (old- time apple) | yellowish-green | tart | all-purpose | July to early Aug. nationwide
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| Macoun | red-green | crisp, semisweet | snacks, salads, applesauce | Sept.-Nov. nationwide
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| Newtown Pippin | green | mildly tart | snacks, salads, cooking | Sept.-Feb., mainly West Coast
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| Paulared | mostly red with green highlights | mildly tart, firm | snacks, salads, cooking | early fall, East
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| Quinte | red | medium tart to sweet | snacks, salads | late summer to early Sept. nationwide
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| Rome Beauty | red w/smatter of green | tartish to sweet | cooking | Oct.-July nationwide
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| Spartan | like McIntosh | crispy, tartish, aromatic | best for snacks and salads | fall to winter, Northeast
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| Stayman | purplish-red | rich, mildly tart | snacks, salads, cooking | fall to spring, Midwest and Southeast
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| Twenty- ounce | large, greenish yellow | slightly tart, crisp | cooking, baking | Fall, Western New York
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| Tydeman Early | bright scarlet, fairly large | firm, mildly tart | dessert | summer nationwide
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| Wealthy | bright red | slightly tart | cooking, baking | mid-Sept.-Nov., primarily in Northeast and Michigan
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| Winesap | deep purplish-red | tangy, juicy, wine-like flavor | all-purpose | Oct.-July nationwide
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| OLD STANDBYS |
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| Golden Delicious | yellow | tangy, sweet, juicy | all-purpose | year-round nationwide
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| Granny Smith | green | tart | all purpose | yearround nationwide
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| McIntosh | red and green | tart, tender, juicy | snacks, salads | Sept. through spring, East to Midwest
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| Red Delicious | striped to solid red | rich, sweet, mellow | snacks, salads | late summer to early Sept.
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Source: International Apple Institute.
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