The Best Apples Ever!
The apples we buy come from a small farmily orchard that grows delicious apples. The growers are conscientious about their growing practices, and follow an IPM (Integrated Pest Management) protocol to minimize their use of pesticides. In addition to the apples pictured below, we also order Concord grapes from the same grower.
We buy a good variety of apples from a certified organic orchard as well.
To get some of these great apples, you'll need to pre-order with us. We take orders for apples in August, September, October, sometimes in November, and again in December. Get on our email list and we'll let you know when the orders begin. If you don't live in Tennessee, let us know you're interested in participating in a coop like ours, and we'll try to connect you with one.
Apple Intro
There are so many beautiful and tasty apples to choose from! How do you choose between them? We hope this brief introduction to each juicy treat will help you decide which one's best for you.
Bulk Natural Foods
A Natural Food Coop in Middle Tennessee
Cameo
Cortland
Fuji
Golden Delicious
Ida Red
Jonagold
Mutsu (a.k.a. Crispin)
Red Delicious
Rome
Empire
Gala
Jonathan
Macintosh
Megan loves Mutsu apples!
Believe it or not, it only took 2 Mutsu apples to make this pie! They're huge!
Current Co-op Orders
Bulk Food Store
Apple FAQ's
Q - Are your apples waxed?
A - No, the apples are not waxed. There is a naturally "waxy" feel to apples, especially when the weather has been warm and especially on certain varieties.
Q - Do you offer Granny Smith apples?
A - No. Granny Smith apples are primarily grown in western states, like Washington. The Michigan growers we work with don't grow Granny Smith apples.
For other questions about apples, please see our general FAQ's.
Jonagold apples are a cross between Jonathan and Golden Delicious apples. They're sweet (with a hint of tartness), firm and juicy. Jonagolds will hold their shape when baked in a pie.
Best Uses:
Fresh eating, pies, applesauce, cider, pies, freezing and storing.
Jonathan apples are sweet-tart, firm and juicy. They're one of the best apples to freeze. Jonathans will hold their shape when baked in a pie.
Best Uses:
Fresh eating, pies, applesauce, cider, pies, cooking, freezing and storing.
Red Delicious apples, fresh off the trees, are delightfully crisp and sweet, not mealy and tasteless like some grocery store Red Delicious apples!
Best Uses:
Fresh eating and applesauce
Golden Delicious apples have firm, white flesh that retains its shape when baked. They're sweet, juicy, and crisp, with tender skin.
Best Uses:
Fresh eating, applesauce, pies, juicing, freezing, and they're okay for storing too.
Honeycrisp apples are the king of crunch! This gourmet apple is sweet, very juicy, and very crispy. (Notice the gourmet price.)
Best Uses:
Fresh eating, applesauce, cooking, juicing, and storage.
Mutsu (a.k.a. Crispin) apples are very crunchy, very juicy and usually very big. (We made a pie with only 2 of them last year!) Sweet and very flavorful.
Best Uses:
Fresh eating, applesauce, juicing, pies (holds its shape very well), and storage.
Cortland apples have very white flesh that is slow to turn brown, which makes them especially good for salads. Cortlands soften quite a bit when they're cooked, which makes 'em good for applesauce. Flavorful, not too sweet.
Best Uses:
Fresh eating, salads, applesauce, pies (very soft pie filling), juicing and apple butter.
Macintosh apples are crisp-tender, juicy, and flavorful; not too sweet. Macintosh apples become very soft when cooked or baked.
Best Uses:
Fresh eating, applesauce, apple butter, and pies.
Gala apples are one of the earliest apples available. They are juicy and sweet and a bit smaller than most of our other apples, which makes them especially well suited for children's lunchboxes.
Best Uses:
Fresh eating, applesauce, apple butter.
Ida Red apples are a gorgeous deep red color with a balanced sweet and tangy flavor. Ida Reds are firm fleshed and usually keep exceptionally well in cold storage.
Best Uses:
Pies, freezing, storage, applesauce, fresh eating.
Rome apples, sometimes known as Red Rome for their beautiful deep red skin, have snow white, dry-ish flesh that is streaked with pink. Rome's make the best baked apples.
Best Uses:
Baking, pies, freezing, storage, applesauce, apple butter
Fuji apples: Sweet, crispy, flavorful, juicy and good for storage. A great all-purpose apple, enjoyed by adults and children alike.
Best Uses:
Pies, fresh eating, applesauce, storage
Empire apples are a cross between Red Delicious and Macintosh; a wonderful blend of sweet and tart. Crisp, juicy and flavorful.
Best Uses:
Applesauce, baking, pies, freezing, eating fresh.
Stayman Winesap are sweet-tart, crispy-crunchy heirloom apples. Although good for eating out of hand, they are a favorite for pies and baking.
Best Uses:
Pies, baking, cider, applesauce, fresh eating, storage
Apple Pictures from Last Fall
These photos were taken several weeks before harvest. The apples were even bigger and redder by the time we got them. Sign up for our emails to receive a message when this year's apple orders begin.
