Your Guide to Apple Season at Jungle Jim’s
Back to feed- Posted: 10/12/2018
- Categories: Produce
Autumn is here and with it comes a wealth of seasonal fruits and vegetables. The most popular fruit now in season is, of course, the apple! Many people look forward to October because it’s a great month for picking apples, baking apple pies, or making fresh apple cider, all of which are treasured fall traditions shared by many. However, with the wide array of apple variants and relatively little explanation as to their differences, shopping for apples can be stupefying! At Jungle Jim’s International Market, we have dozens of seasonal apples during the fall months, and it can be hard to choose the right apple for your tastes and needs. That’s why we’ve put together this handy apple chart and written a breakdown of each apple variety to explain its tastes and best uses. We’ve included 14 popular types here, but we have even more in our stores! If you have questions even after consulting this article or are wondering if we carry an apple that isn’t listed here, please send us a message or stop by to ask one of our produce experts in person!
Picked in late August.
Crisp and sweet. Excellent for eating and very good for making applesauce. Gala apples are heart-shaped and make a fantastic addition to salads. They are mildly sweet with vanilla and floral aromas and have thinner skins than most other apples.
Picked in late August.
Spicy, crisp, and sweet. Excellent for eating and for making applesauce. The sweet flavor of Fuji apples is resembles that of freshly-pressed apple juice. These are great apples for salads!
Picked in August and September.
Sweet and tart, delicate, and crisp. Ginger Gold apples are excellent for eating and very good for making applesauce.
Picked in early September.
McIntosh apples are a New England favorite! Spicy and tender, they are great for eating and making pies. They don’t keep as well as other apples, so eat them quickly to avoid spoiling!
Picked in mid-September.
Tart and very crisp, Jonathan apples are excellent for eating and for making pies. They hold their shape very well and can be used for making applesauce and for baking.
Picked in mid-September.
Also known as Crispin apples, Mutsu apples are actually a cross between Golden Delicious and Indo apples. Very sweet, juicy, and crisp, these apples are great for eating and make very sweet applesauce.
Picked in mid-September.
Very tart and crisp, Cortland apples are excellent for making applesauce and pies, but are just okay for baking. They were cultivated in New York state in 1898 and are now a highly popular variety.
Picked in late September.
The Red Delicious is America’s favorite apple for eating! Red Delicious apples are great on their own and make good, yet chunky, applesauce, but are not recommended for use in baking. They are rich, sweet, and crisp, and keep well.
Picked in late September.
Honeycrisp apples are crisp and sweet with a unique, clean texture. Many have compared the taste to that of fresh apple cider. These apples are excellent for baking, making applesauce, and eating!
Picked in late September.
Golden Delicious apples are rich, sweet, and crisp, and exhibit a mellow flavor when baked or cooked. They’re great to eat raw, as they have a thin skin and a silky texture.
Picked in late September.
Aromatic with flavors of honey, Jonagold apples are tangy and sweet with moderate acidity. They’re excellent baking apples and make great pies.
Picked in mid-October.
Aromatic with flavors of honey, Jonagold apples are tangy and sweet with moderate acidity. They’re excellent baking apples and make great pies.
Picked in mid-October.
Stamen Winesap (also spelled “Stayman-Winesap”) apples are spicy, tart, and hard. They’re best for making pies or baking, but can also make good applesauce. This apple variety was developed in the late 1800s and has been a popular dessert choice ever since.
Picked in early October.
Granny Smith apples are very tart and hard. When baked or sauteed, this tartness shines through. They’re great in salads and are excellent for baking, making pies, or for eating. They are also great for making chunky applesauce.
My comment is actually a question: Do you still have any Mutsu apples in the stores? I love them!!
Not yet! We actually had a shipment come in this week, but they weren’t up to our standards so we chose not to put them on the floor. We’ll be getting another shipment next week and if they are in a better condition, they’ll be available then!
Are winesap apples available yet?
Do you guys get in any Hidden rose apples?