The more you know the less you know, that saying hit me when I became aware of an event now in its 18th year, Apple Day.
It took Apple Day Comes of Age this week-end in the Financial Times (by Philippa Davenport) to get me hooked on the topic
A distinctively British happening, Apple Day was brought to life by Sue Clifford and Angela King of Common Ground who celebrate what they brand Local Distinctiveness.
This Apple Day has nothing to do with Steve Jobs or the release of Leopard.
For this 18th Edition, the founders with a little help from Philippa Davenport published The Apple Source Book which reminds us of the many uses for the nearly 3000 species of apples that can be grown in the British Isles.
According to England in Particular-What’s In Season on Common Ground here are some of the varieties that can be found in October: Allington Pippin, Arthur Turner, Bloody Ploughman, Bramleys, Catshead,
Charles Ross, Cox’s Orange Pippins, Egremont Russett, Gascoynes
Scarlet, Hoary Morning, Howgate Wonder, King of the Pippins, Lord
Lambourne, Michaelmas Red, Norfolk Beauty, Ribston Pippin, Queen,
Sunset, Tom Putt, Worcester Pearmain.
How many of these have you tasted?
I did not know until I read Philippa Davenport’s piece that this favorite fruit originally came from the mountains of Tien Shan on the Kazakhstan-China border.
Some call Tien Shan, the Heaven’s Mountains and it is a favorite with trekkers and mountain climbers.
Take a bite, croquez la pomme!
Related stories: Jazz from New Zealand and Honeycrisp Apple, The Farmer’s Market