Apples from Yesterday to Tomorrow

Whenever I am talking about modern apple varieties, I often start with what apples the new apple was created from. But in today’s podcast episode I am sharing the story of an heirloom apple that was planted as a seed without any particular intentions. The Bramley’s Seedling from England is regarded as a fabulous baking apple. These aren’t easy to find and I was lucky to get my hands on some this f...

In today’s episode, I am covering the Sweet Sixteen apple. It was a variety that I really hadn’t paid all that much attention to. I don’t really know why, either. It is a good apple. It has a firm texture when freshly picked and a sweet flavor. Learn about the variety by listening to the podcast episode and also see what I wrote about it on my blog, Eat Like No One Else - What Do Sweet Sixteen App...

I have always been a sucker for unique colored fruits and vegetables. Of them all, I absolutely love apples that have a red or pink flesh. I have found many heirloom varieties and new modern varieties tha I can’t imagine a fall without them anymore. In this podcast episode you are going to learn about what the past has looked like for these apples and what the future holds. Past podcast episodes t...

In today’s episode I am talking about an apple variety that has been a few years since I had it - the Mollie’s Delicious. Learn some interesting information about this apple variety that is making it harder to find as times goes on. Take a listen to this episode now or check out my blog Eat Like No One Else to learn more about Mollie’s Delicious . This is a blog post that I originally wrote back i...

If there is one apple that I am surprised isn’t available in grocery store across the country, it has to be the Crimson Crisp apple. This very firm, tart, but with some sweetness, pretty red apple variety is the subject of this week’s podcast episode. I have had this apple all across the country and am telling its story. Take a listen and then go for a search for it in your area. I just created a...

In this week’s episode, I am talking about a really, really, really (did I say really) old apple variety from Russia. It is called Duchess of Oldenburg. I live in an area with strong Russian influence, so I was able to find this apple variety for the first time this year. While not being an apple that will ever catch on in the mainstream, it is a variety that has been used to create other apples t...

In this week’s podcast episode I am sharing an apple that is so rare in the United States, I couldn’t find anyone else growing it from a Google search, except for the farm I got them at. This early-ripening unique apple variety can have a red flesh if allowed to mature enough later into the season and is known for having a berry-like flavor to it. I used my single serving apple cobbler recipe to t...

Last fall I discovered an heirloom apple variety that is grown in the Pacific Northwest, called the Spokane Beauty. It has been around since the 1800s, originally from an apple seed that actually turned into an apple of note. What stands out about the Spokane Beauty apple is its size. Learn how big they get in this week’s podcast episode. Get full access to What Apple to Eat Today at whatappletoea...

When my family was full-time RVing around the country, one of my favorite stops was up in Maine. I was there for the entire month of August and into September. So that means I got to be there for the beginning of the apple season. One of the varieties that I found while I was there was called Vista Bella. It is an early-season apple variety and the subject of this week’s podcast episode, so take a...

Back in 2021, I had one amazing apple season, traveling from Maine down to Tennessee. I went apple picking several times, starting up in Maine. This is where I picked Prima apples at Hooper’s Orchard . This variety is the subject of today’s podcast episode. On a side note, I had my first apple u-pick experience of the 2026 season, I got a ton of Akane apples, which I talked about on the podcast la...

Over the next 3 podcast episodes I am going to be talking about the history and how it is going today for some early season apple varieties. I will share a special tip in each podcast episode about early season apples. The first episode in this 3-part miniseries is about the Paula Red apple. I have found these apples all over the Midwest and Northeast parts of the country. They are a variety that...

The picture above is of the Columbia River in Wentachee, Washington. I took a trip there last month. Even thought it wasn’t time for apples yet, I got to learn first hand why Washington grows so many of our nation’s apples. I share all about that in the first episode of the new season of the podcast - Apples from Yesterday to Tomorrow. * 🍎 I keep a running 🍎✅❌ Buy & Skip Apple Guide , which is...

If you listened to last week’s podcast episode, you might be very confused by the title of this week’s episode. Last week I was all about sharing Why Summer is a Bad Time for Apples . But this week I am saying it’s a good time for apples. That’s because summer is really the best of times and the worst of times when it comes to apples. It all comes down to the season actually starting in the summer...

The 2025-2026 season of the podcast is winding down now. Only a few episodes left before the July break. As we are a few days away from the first day of summer, I wanted to do an episode that I am calling “Why Summer is a Bad Time for Apples”. I will share my thoughts on what the cons of summers are for fresh apple eating. You’ll want to take a listen to see what apples I can still recommend this...

Finishing up my series on the apple tree I am planting this season and this one my surprise you. It is a crap apple. I have talked about a few different crab apples before here on Substack as well as on my blog. Apples like the Dolgo Crab, Kerr, and Chestnut Crab. I love these small sized apple as you get a nice bite of the skin every single time, plus they are super flavorful. The Kerr and Chestn...

Welcome to the 2nd episode in a short series where I am sharing about the trees I am planting and why I choose them. I think any good home orchard needs to have a powerhouse baking apple. When I had the chance to pick out a Rhode Island Greening apple tree, I couldn’t pass it up. This old heirloom variety is one of my favorite pie apples of all time, plus they aren’t easy to find, so why not grow...

Welcome to the 2nd episode in a short series where I am sharing about the trees I am planting and why I choose them. I think any good home orchard needs to have a powerhouse baking apple. When I had the chance to pick out a Rhode Island Greening apple tree, I couldn’t pass it up. This old heirloom variety is one of my favorite pie apples of all time, plus they aren’t easy to find, so why not grow...

Welcome to the 2nd episode in a short series where I am sharing about the trees I am planting and why I choose them. I think any good home orchard needs to have a powerhouse baking apple. When I had the chance to pick out a Rhode Island Greening apple tree, I couldn’t pass it up. This old heirloom variety is one of my favorite pie apples of all time, plus they aren’t easy to find, so why not grow...

In a couple of weeks I will be picking up some apple trees to plant myself. This will actually be the first time I have ever planted an apple tree myself. I am excited to give it ago. I choose 5 different apple varieties to plant and will be sharing with you why I picked each one and why I think that apple variety is worth your attention if you see them to buy. The first apple is the Roxbury Russe...

I have to say that there are apple varieties out there that I don’t pay enough attention to. They are good apples but I get distracted with other varieties. Well today we are going to give some much-needed attention to the delicious, tart-yet-sweet, Crimson Topaz apple. Learn all about this apple variety and some cool facts in this week’s podcast episode. 🍎 I keep a running 🍎✅❌ Buy & Skip Appl...

I have not been shy to share how much of a fan of smaller apples I am. I love the skin to flesh ratio you get in a smaller apple. This week I am sharing about one of my favorite small apples - the Pixie Crunch apple. Learn why if you like a flavorful sweet, small apple, you need to add this one to your must try list. You don’t see a lot of small apples in the grocery store. But we do have the Rock...

One question I get asked of people time and time again, is how the heck am I finding all these different apples to talk about? Well I thought I would dedicate an entire podcast episode to answering that question for you. So take a listen and learn all of my “secrets”. * Tired of trying to pick out the best apple in the grocery store only to bring home something that wasn’t any good. Then you need...

For this week’s podcast episode, I want to share with you an apple from the Netherlands that dates back to the 1800s - the Belle de Boskoop. This is an apple that I have found at several orchards that grow heirloom varieties. Learn all about it, why I buy these apples and why I would not want to try to make a big stack of them in a grocery store (I use to work in produce!). * Tired of trying to pi...

Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day, so I thought I would share an episode featuring a green apple. If you are listening to this on St. Patrick’s Day I say it should count the same as wearing green, so you shouldn’t be pinched! There are many green apples out there besides Granny Smith, even if it is rare to find any other green apple in the grocery store. This episode is a throwback to one of my popula...

Some apples never get a fair chance because they do not look supermarket pretty. That is the case with the Melrose apple. Recognized by Ohio as their official state apple, the Melrose is a well-balanced, sweet-tart apple that has great flavor. The ones in the photo above are the best ones I ever had in my life. Grocery stores won’t carry an apple that has all that browning on the skin, even though...