What's Picking September 29/30

It's that time of the season when so many incredible varieties are available, it's hard to choose which apples to take home. You may be looking for a sweet, juicy eating apple or something tart and firm. If you're planning on baking your Thanksgiving pies, you may want a variety with a balance of flavour but a texture that holds up in the oven. Here's a guide to what's picking at Nature's Bounty and our recommended uses:

• Honeycrisp: We still have plenty of Honeycrisp available, but they won't last much longer. Large, crunchy and busting with sweet juice, Honeycrisp might make you forget there are other apples in the orchard.
• Gala: Perfect for eating or mixed with other apples for a crisp, Gala have a sweet, mellow flavour. The remaining Gala have a vibrant red colour.
• McIntosh: You may have to dig into the trees to find them but there are still McIntosh left in the orchard. If you miss the Macs this weekend, we will have pre-picked bags starting next week. Great for eating and cider.
• Crimson Crisp: New this week! Firm, deep red, and strikingly tart, Crimson Crisp help to balance the sweetness of other apples in sauce, pies and other goodies. For home cider makers, try these in the mix.
• Blondee: Similar to a Ginger Gold in appearance, but with more complex flavour and slightly more crunch, this sweet yellow apple is an up-and-comer. Try one this weekend!
• Cortland: The classic choice for salads and sliced for lunches (because it is slow to brown) these sweet/tart apples are extra large this year. An excellent choice for baking.
• Empire: New this week! Empire are smaller, sweet apples that offer a satisfying crunch and a gush of juice. Their deep plum-red colouring is beautiful on the trees.

Also available this weekend is Macoun, Silken, and Spartan. Hope to see you at the orchard!