2013 Apple Guide: The what, when, where and how

Compiled by Meredith Goad, Staff Writer



Our 2013 Apple Guide covers the most popular varieties plus a few of the harder-to-find heirloom apples that are becoming increasingly popular with cooks and apple fans.



We've also included descriptions of what the fruit tastes like, suggestions for how to use it and where you can find it. The orchards listed here have confirmed that they do indeed have these varieties available for sale or pick-your-own this year.



All references to ripening times are based on a normal year.





BALDWIN

MCINTOSH

CORTLAND

MACOUN

PAULA RED

RED DELICIOUS

GOLDEN DELICIOUS

LADY ('CHRISTMAS APPLE')

HONEYCRISP

EMPIRE

SPARTAN

SPENCER

NORTHERN SPY

MUTSU (CRISPIN)

JONA GOLD

GINGER GOLD

GALA

BROCK

FUJI

BLUE PEARMAIN

RHODE ISLAND GREENING

BRAEBURN

TOLMAN SWEET

WINESAP

ROLFE

RED GRAVENSTEIN

NEWTOWN PIPPIN

WOLF RIVER

IDA RED

POUND SWEET

GOLDEN RUSSET

NODHEAD

WINTER BANANA

WEALTHY

SNOW APPLE

ROME

JONATHAN

LIBERTY

GRANNY SMITH

Ready in mid- to late October, this heirloom apple is crisp and juicy with a bit of sweetness.McDougal Orchards in Springvale, Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Willow Pond Farm in Sabattus, Doles Orchard in Limington, Apple Acres Farm in South Hiram.Good for baking, and makes a fabulous venison mincemeat because it keeps its shape, according to Connie Sweetser.A mix of sweet and tart.Available in mid-September, the Mac is Maine's most popular apple. Virtually every orchard has them.Snacking, cooking, applesauce, cider. Can become mushy in a pie.Ready in late September, this apple is tart and crisp.Five Fields Farm in Bridgton, Hansel's Orchard in North Yarmouth, McDougal Orchards in Springvale, Lakeside Orchards in Manchester, Boothby's Orchard in Livermore, Douglas Hill Orchard in Sebago, Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond, Pietree Orchard in Sweden, Libby & Son in Limerick, Willow Pond Farm in Sabattus, Lakeside Orchard in Manchester, Randall Orchards in Standish, Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner, Wallingford's in Auburn, Apple Acres Farm in South Hiram, Doles Orchard in Limington, Brackett's Orchards in Limington, Kelly Orchards in Acton, Rocky Ridge Orchard in Bowdoin, Apple Ridge Farms in Auburn.A favorite for cooking because it stays firm. Won't brown quickly when cut, so it's a good apple to use in salads or for serving with a sharp cheese. Also good for baking and drying.Sweet and mildly tart like a McIntosh, but better. It stays crisper longer than a Mac.Five Fields Farm in Bridgton, Hansel's Orchard in North Yarmouth, Kelly Orchards in Acton, Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Pietree Orchard in Sweden, Libby & Son in Limerick, Lakeside Orchard in Manchester, Randall Orchards in Standish, Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner, Wallingford's in Auburn, Apple Acres Farm in South Hiram, Brackett's Orchards in Limington, Rocky Ridge Orchard in Bowdoin, Apple Ridge Farms in Auburn.Ready in September, this is a good variety for applesauce. Cook it with the skin still on to make the sauce an interesting, purplish color. Also good for snacks and desserts.This early apple is sweet with a touch of tartness, like a McIntosh.Five Fields Farm in Bridgton, Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Libby & Son in Limerick, Apple Acres Farm in South Hiram, Kelly Orchards in Acton.Good for snacking, pies and applesauce.Sweet.Five Fields Farm in Bridgton, McDougal Orchards in Springvale, Lakeside Orchards in Manchester, Douglas Hill Orchard in Sebago, Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond, Pietree Orchard in Sweden, Willow Pond Farm in Sabattus, Randall Orchards in Standish, Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner, Wallingford's in Auburn, Apple Ridge Farms in Auburn, Apple Acres Farm in South Hiram, Doles Orchard in Limington, Brackett's Orchards in Limington, Libby & Son in Limerick, Kelly Orchards in Acton, Rocky Ridge Orchard in Bowdoin.Good for snacking and salads. Not recommended for cooking. Available in September and October.Sweet and juicy, ready in mid-October.Five Fields Farm in Bridgton, Lakeside Orchards in Manchester, Douglas Hill Orchard in Sebago, Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond, Pietree Orchard in Sweden, Libby & Son in Limerick, Randall Orchards in Standish, Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner, Wallingford's in Auburn, Apple Ridge Farms in Auburn, Apple Acres Farm in South Hiram, Doles Orchard in Limington, Brackett's Orchards in Limington, Kelly Orchards in Acton.A favorite of pastry chefs, this is an excellent baking apple. Also good for snacking.This small heirloom apple is not much bigger than a crabapple but tastes sweet, more like a McIntosh.Five Fields Farm in Bridgton, Kelly Orchards in Acton.This apple, which can be downed in two or three bites, has been called edible garnish. Grab a handful and eat it like candy.Sweet, juicy and crisp; some fans say the flavor explodes in your mouth. This is Maine's hottest new apple, grown here since 1995 and available in late September and October.Kelly Orchards in Acton, McDougal Orchards in Springvale, Boothby's Orchard in Livermore, Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond, Libby & Son in Limerick, Lakeside Orchard in Manchester, Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner, Wallingford's in Auburn, Apple Ridge Farms in Auburn, Pietree Orchard in Sweden, Five Fields Farm in Bridgton, Apple Acres Farm in South Hiram, Doles Orchard in Limington, Brackett's Orchards in Limington, Randall Orchards in Standish, Rocky Ridge Orchard in Bowdoin.Very popular for snacking.This late-September apple is sweet with some mild tartness.Lakeside Orchards in Manchester, Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Randall Orchards in Standish, Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner, Wallingford's in Auburn, Apple Ridge Farms in Auburn, Doles Orchard in Limington, Brackett's Orchards in Limington, Kelly Orchards in Acton, Libby & Son in Limerick.A good all-around apple for eating and cooking. Excellent dessert apple.Sweet and juicy.Lakeside Orchards in Manchester, Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center.Snacks and salads. Available in September and October.Very sweet and tangy.Kelly Orchards in Acton, McDougal Orchards in Springvale, Lakeside Orchards in Manchester, Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond, Apple Acres Farm in South Hiram, Doles Orchard in Limington, Brackett's Orchards in Limington.Good for snacking, but also a good pie apple. Ready by late September or early October.Available in late October, this tart heirloom apple has a bit of spicy flavor to it.Kelly Orchards in Acton, McDougal Orchards in Springvale, Lakeside Orchards in Manchester, Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond, Pietree Orchard in Sweden, Willow Pond Farm in Sabattus, Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner, Wallingford's in Auburn, Apple Ridge Farms in Auburn, Apple Acres Farm in South Hiram, Doles Orchard in Limington, Brackett's Orchards in Limington, Randall Orchards in Standish, Libby & Son in Limerick.Makes a great pie.Ready in mid- to late October, tastes similar to a Golden Delicious, but better flavor. Tangy.McDougal Orchards in Springvale, Kelly Orchards in Acton, Lakeside Orchards in Manchester, Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center (limited this year), Pietree Orchard in Sweden.Good for cooking and eating.Available by early October, this cross between the heirloom Jonathan and a Golden Delicious is sweet, light and crisp.Kelly Orchards in Acton, Lakeside Orchards in Manchester, Boothby's Orchard in Livermore, Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner, Wallingford's in Auburn, Apple Ridge Farms in Auburn, Doles Orchard in Limington, Libby & Son in Limerick.Good snacking apple, good in salads and for cooking. Pairs well with cheese. Makes a decent pie when mixed with other varieties.Sweet and tangy.Kelly Orchards in Acton, Lakeside Orchard in Manchester, Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner, Wallingford's in Auburn, Apple Ridge Farms in Auburn, Pietree Orchard in Sweden, Brackett's Orchards in Limington, Libby & Son in Limerick.Snacking; holds its shape in cooking and baking. Good for salads because it doesn't turn brown.Sweet.Kelly Orchards in Acton, Lakeside Orchards in Manchester, Boothby's Orchard in Livermore, Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond, Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner, Wallingford's in Auburn, Apple Ridge Farms in Auburn, Randall Orchards in Standish.Available in late September and early October, this apple is known for its good dessert characteristics. Also used for salads, sauces, snacking and baking.This late fall apple is tart, crisp and juicy. It was developed at the University of Maine and named after an apple grower from Alfred who helped test it.McDougal Orchards in Springvale, Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center.Excellent dessert apple.Ready in October, this crisp apple is very sweet and juicy.McDougal Orchards in Springvale, Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner, Wallingford's in Auburn, Apple Ridge Farms in Auburn.Snacking, salads and sauce. Sauce made with this apple needs little or no sugar.This heirloom apple with a bluish bloom (coating over the blush) is mild and sweet.Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Lakeside Orchard in Manchester.Good eating apple.This heirloom apple is crisp, juicy and tart, similar to a Granny.Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center.A good baking apple that can substitute for a Granny Smith.What it tastes like: Spicy sweet-tart flavor.Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond, Randall Orchards in Standish.Good for snacking, great for baking.As the name implies, this heirloom apple has a sweet flavor.McDougal Orchards in Springvale, Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond, Lakeside Orchard in Manchester.Good for cooking, baking, making jelly.Tart and tangy, some say it has a spicy flavor reminiscent of red wine.Pietree Orchard in Sweden, Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond.How to use it: Cider, snacks and salads.This heirloom apple is juicy and tender crisp.Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center. This orchard at one time had the only Rolfe tree left in Maine.Use it as an eating apple and take a bite into Maine history.Sweet.Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Pietree Orchard in Sweden.Bakers of pies swear by Gravensteins. (It wins a lot of apple pie contests.) Wonderful with cheese. Also good for eating and cooking. No need to add sugar when you make applesauce. Dried Gravensteins keep their flavor well.This heirloom apple, said to be a favorite of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, is slightly tart and said to have a piney quality.Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond.Best for sauces and pies.This very large heirloom apple is a bit tart.Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond, Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Randall Orchards in Standish, Pietree Orchard in Sweden, Libby & Son in Limerick.A cooking apple, good for baked apples and pies.Tangy. Ready in late September.Lakeside Orchard in Manchester, Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond, Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner, Wallingford's in Auburn, Apple Ridge Farms in Auburn, Randall Orchards in Standish.Good all-around apple.Very sweet.Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center.Good eating apple, but best when baked.Very sweet.Lakeside Orchard in Manchester, Randall Orchards in Standish.Popular for cider. Also good for snacking and drying.This heirloom apple, available in late September, has its own rich, distinctive flavor Ã¢ÂÂ mild, and not too sweet.Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Randall Orchards in Standish.A good eating apple, adds great flavor to apple cider.Sweet and, as the name implies, may taste a little like a banana.Lakeside Orchard in Manchester.For dessert and cooking, but better as an eating apple because it's so mild.This heirloom apple is crispy and tart, with a hint of strawberry.Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Doles Orchard in Limington, Randall Orchards in Standish.An all-purpose apple used for snacking and in pies and sauces.This heirloom apple has a sweet flavor.Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center.An eating apple. Available mid- to late September.Slightly tart.Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond, Pietree Orchard in Sweden.Ready in October, these apples are great for baking.Sweet-tart, spicy.Randall Orchards in Standish.All-purpose apple, good for snacking.Sweet-tart, crisp.Sweetser's Orchards in Cumberland Center, Randall Orchards in Standish, Doles Orchard in Limington.An all-purpose apple good for eating or cooking. Ready in late September or early October.Crisp and tart.Randall Orchards in Standish, Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond, Lakeside Orchard in Manchester (Blushing Granny).Baking, sauces, salads, snacking.to Renae Moran of the Maine Pomological Society for the photos of Fortune, Brock, Mutsu, Blue Permain and Winter Banana.