Apple review: Jonathan

[redbird]

I took one bite of the Jonathan, spat it out, and told cattitude "I don't think I like this." He took a bite, ate it, and said that he didn't think it was ever going to be his favorite. Sour and not much else to say about it (moderately juicy, at least). Then we threw it out and I took out a NY428.

Comments

[callunav.livejournal.com]

I grew up in central Illinois, where Jonathans are the best apples going, or were in the 70s and 80s. We lived a couple miles from the orchards. They were crisp, sweet, tart, and flavorful. The skin wasn't obtrusive. They made pretty good pies, they made really good eating. We only ever got any other apples - sometimes Macintoshes, until Granny Smiths became store standards - when the Jonathans weren't available.

I was dismayed when I moved to the east coast and discovered that, in fact, every Jonathan apple I had sucked. It wasn't very flavorful, but worse, it wasn't crisp at all. And that was at its best. This was how I learned my important lesson about local farming.

I encourage you to try Jonathans again if you're ever in Champaign-Urbana or its environs in the fall.

[redbird]

Thanks. I hadn't thought of that aspect, though I probably should have.

Come to think, one of the NYnnn apples we tried a year or two back is also known as "Bella Vista." It has a Spanish name because it caught on in the highlands of Guatemala, to which I gather it is well suited.