THE MAINE MARKET BASKET

 A weekly news service for promoting 

 Maine's healthy, local and seasonal

 foods.

Featured crop: Apples

Long before lobster, blueberries, and potatoes had become Maine's state foods, there were apples.

It is hard to overstate their importance in Maine history. From the moment the first Europeans landed on Maine's shores in the 1600s, apples have provided food for humans and animals alike.  Their juice was transformed into vinegar which was used in the pickling of vegetables for winter eating and into cider for winter drinking. 

In the 1800s, it was impossible to find a farm or homestead without an orchard.  Most orchards contained apples of several different varieties, each with its own merit.  Similarly, each village had its own cider press and, in most cases, several. 

Much has changed over the years, but Maine's apple heritage continues via our many farms and orchards and the different varieties they grow.  Rather than being a student of this great history, you can be part of it by picking some of your own Maine apples this fall.  Be sure to bring your children or grandchildren.  They are, after all, the next chapter in this fascinating story.

 Click here for print-quality photo           

Shopping info:

Shopping for apples can be easy if you know what you like and what you want.  Certain varieties known as "dessert" apples (e.g. Gala, Honeycrisp) are best eaten fresh while others are better for cooking (e.g. Courtland, Braeburn).  Some varieties known as "all-purpose" (e.g. McIntosh, Macoun) can do double-duty.  Still others are known as "storage" varieties (e.g. heirloom varieties such as Black Oxford, Northern Spy, etc.) are grown for their ability to last and, in some cases, improve with age.

Regardless of what type of apple you are looking for, choose apples that are firm to the touch and free of any bruises and nicks.  If you are in doubt about what apple to choose, ask your local orchardist or farmers' market vendor.

Preparation info:

Rinse apples under clear running water like you would any fruit. In addition to being delicious on their own, apples are a wonderful addition to a variety of recipes from green salads to baked goods such as cobblers and pies.

To prevent browning when slicing apples for a recipe, simply put the slices in a bowl of cold water to which a spoonful of lemon juice has been added. For use in future recipes, sliced apples freeze well in plastic bags or containers. For a pleasant change of pace, try cooking peeled and sliced apples with red cabbage. 
 

Featured Recipe:

Apple Fritters

Ingredients:

2 apples
2 eggs
1/2 cup of low-fat milk
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp granulated sugar
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil

Procedure:

1. Peel and chop apples into small pieces. Put into mixing bowl.
2. Add eggs, milk, baking powder, cinnamon and sugar.
3. Pour oil into a skillet and heat to medium.
4. Pour about 1/2 cup of batter into skillet. Flip when browned and sides are cooked. Continue until all batter is used up.
5. Top with a sprinkle of powdered sugar or your favorite preserves.

Makes about 5 fritters.

Did you know?

-McIntosh represents 80% of Maine's apple harvest.

-When an apple is sliced in half, the apple core looks like a star.
-It takes about 36 apples to create one gallon of apple cider.
-Two pounds of apples make one 9-inch pie.
-Apple trees take four to five years to produce their first fruit.

What else is in season?

Seasonal availability of produce in Maine varies from week to week and from one farm or farmers' market to the next.

Maine apples for fresh eating are available from late August through the end of October. Many stores and farms offer storage apples year round.

The following items are also considered widely available statewide as of this date: salad greens, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, snap and wax beans, beets, blueberries, broccoli, beet greens, eggplant, herbs, leeks, melons, onions, potatoes, peppers, sweet corn, swiss chard, scallions, tomatoes, zucchini and summer squash.

For more info on the seasonal availability of Maine produce, see the chart posted here.

Where to buy fresh, Maine-grown foods in your area:

       Find farmers markets in your area here

         Find farmstands in your area here

        Find CSA farms in your area here

     Find local "pick-your-own" farms here

For more info about the availability of Maine food and farm products, please see: http://www.getrealmaine.com

Click here for a camera-ready version of the "get real. get maine!" logo

About the Maine Market Basket: