For Some Apples, Summer is the Season
How do we like these apples? In July and August.
BY TOMMY WERNER
July 30, 2015
It may be the middle of blueberry, melon, and—soon—tomato season, and yet you can't help it: You find yourself looking ahead to apple season, the season when you throw on a sweater, jump in the car, and watch the leaves change as you pick apples as crisp as the fall air.
This is totally normal and nothing to be ashamed of. But it's also unnecessary. You don't have to look ahead to apple season. Because apple season is actually already here.
Summer apples are an overlooked class of apples that come into season in late July and early August. They've got yellow skins and intense flavors—much more tart and savory than their autumnal counterparts.
Lodi
Bought at their peak, these look like a less shiny version of Granny Smith. Created in 1924 as a cross between Yellow Transparent and Montgomery, this variety of summer apple shows up in many farmer’s markets during the last weeks in July. They’re green and tough-skinned, with a tart, almost lemony flavor. Chop them and mix them into a chicken salad.
Yellow Transparent
Dating back to Russian origins in the 1800s, yellow transparents have a pale yellow skin with white and greenish dots. Depending on where you are in the country, you may start seeing these in mid-July. Look for smooth skin that’s practically transparent when it’s ripe. The fruit is roundish, conical, and mildly acidic—and it’s perfect for a tart snack, in an applesauce, or for juicing. ...read more