Apples of Uncommon Character

August 1, 2014
At the close of the twentieth century, few varieties of apples seemed available in American supermarkets. Shoppers had choices among Red Delicious, Yellow Delicious, McIntosh, and perhaps Granny Smith. The foodie revolution has changed all that, and new varieties from all over the world now crowd produce shelves. Who would have imagined a few years ago that browsers in green markets would have to distinguish Fuji from Gala, Cox's Orange Pippin from Cortland, or Winesap from Wealthy? Jacobsen catalogs both familiar and obscure apples, offering details on the variety's history, its salient characteristics, its seasonality, and its culinary uses. Many regional apple varieties have short seasons or limited production, so not every apple can appear in Jacobsen's inventory, but there are plenty to savor. Full-color photographs help with identification. Twenty-plus recipes show off the fruit to best advantage, and there is a formula for the perfect apple pie.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)