This post is from Tamaras Sweet Treats yahoo group.  It is a great group, we actually she has several great groups, which I would highly recommend joining.
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Apples and Autumn were made for each other! Who can imagine the season without freshly baked apple pies, fresh apple cider, caramelized apples, an apple for the teacher, or the old tradition of bobbing for apples at Halloween?



With stores and local farm stands loaded with a wide assortment, you may feel challenged in choosing what kinds of apples to buy. How you will use them is as important in making this decision as personal taste.



What Kind of apples?

For eating straight from the bushel basket, crisp, juicy, tangy varieties are best.



Red Delicious is the most popular eating apple, though you may prefer a denser Granny Smith, a softer-fleshed McIntosh, or the distinctive taste of local farm varieties like Newton, Pippin, Macoun or Sweet Sixteen. And, no matter how much you like them, avoid using Red Delicious in cooking, which turns them into bland mush.



For sauce, McIntosh is moist and has good flavor. Cortlands are also good because their sweetness means adding less sugar; Braeburns are good, too.



Rome is a good baking apple as they hold their shape and have room for lots of filling. You can also try baking with Fuiji's, which are sweeter and wetter, with a slightly spicy flavor.



For pies, a mix of apples is best. Include Golden Delicious for sweetness and good shape, a tart apple like the green Granny Smith, and some flavorful varieties like the Pippin, Winesap, Crispin and Jonagold.



How Much to Buy

When deciding how many apples to buy, figure 2 large, 3 medium or 4 small apples to the pound.



For sauce, a large apple yields 3/4 cup, a medium one cup, and a small apple, 1/3 cup. For pies, most recipes call for 6 to 8 apples, but you can always use 8 large or 10 smaller ones.



Remember to always store apples in the fridge, where they keep 10 times as long as they do at room temperature.



RED DELICIOUS:



Description



This one's a classic - America's favorite snacking apple. The heart-shaped fruit is bright red and sometimes striped. Crunchy with a mildly sweet flavor, Reds are also great in salads. Washington apple growers have been producing the world's best Red Delicious apples since the 1920s. They're harvested in September and October and available throughout the year.

Origin



Introduction to market: 1874

Place of origin: Peru, Iowa

Parentage: Unknown, discovered as a chance seedling on the farm of Jesse Hiatt. The variety was originally known as Hawkeye.



GOLDEN DELICIOUS:



Description



It's the all-purpose apple. Mellow and sweet, Goldens are great for eating out of hand, baking and salads. In salads and other dishes, their flesh stays white longer than other apples. The dry, warm climate of Eastern Washington is perfect for this delicate yellow beauty. They're harvested in September and available all year.

Origin



Introduction to market: 1914

Place of origin: Clay County, West Virginia

Parentage: Uncertain, but some suspect the chance seedling can be traced to Golden Reinette and Grimes golden



GALA:



Description



Pinkish-orange stripes over a yellow background are the signature of this crisp, aromatically-sweet, snappy apple. Galas have gained popularity among consumers in the past 15 years. Snacking and salads are primary uses. Gala harvest begins in the middle of August and lasts through early September. Galas are stocked September to May.

Origin



Introduction to market: 1965

Place of origin: New Zealand

Parentage: Gala is a cross of Kidd's Orange and Golden Delicious developed by New Zealand plant breeders.



FUJI:



Description



This immensely flavorful, new variety was introduced to the U.S. from Japan in the 1980s, but now the U.S. produces more Fujis than Japan. Each year, this big, super-sweet, crisp apple gains new fans. The Fuji holds its texture when baked. It's known for its hard texture and syrupy sweetness. It's also excellent for baking and salads. Washington's cool weather in the late fall helps develop its reddish-pink color and superb flavor. Fujis are harvested in October and can be purchased October to August.

Origin



Introduction to market: 1962

Place of Origin: Japan

Parentage: This variety is a cross of Red Delicious and Ralls Janet bred at a Japanese research station.



GRANNY SMITH:



Description



Green, extremely tart, crisp, juicy and versatile, they're available year-round. Grannies are a favorite of Washington state pie-bakers. They're also excellent for snacking and salads. Warm days and cool summer nights ensure crunch and flavor for October harvest.

Origin



Introduction to market: 1868

Place of origin: Australia

Parentage: Believed to be descended from French crabapples cultivated by Australian grandmother Maria Ann Smith.



BRAEBURN:



Description



This apple's rich, sweet-tart, spicy flavor is high-impact. Color varies from orange to red over a yellow background. Aromatic, juicy and crisp, this apple is very firm. Braeburns are great for snacking and baking. Washington growers harvest the variety in September and early October. Consumers can purchase Washington Braeburns from October through July.

Origin



Introduction to market: 1952

Place of origin: New Zealand

Parentage: Uncertain, discovered as a chance seedling. Its probable parents are Lady Hamilton and Granny Smith.



HONEYCRISP:



Description



Developed by the University of Minnesota, Honeycrisp has bright red and pale green outer skin and a cream colored crisp yet juicy inner flesh. With a sweet yet slightly tart flavor, this variety of apple is great for salads, baking, cooking or eating as a snack. The Honeycrisp Apple was created to grow well in cooler northern climates. It is a variety that stores well.



CRIPPS PINK:



Description



Firm, crisp flesh and a unique, tangy-tart, sweet flavor are characteristic of this apple. Snackers and bakers give the variety high marks in consumer tastings. Cripps Pink, also known as Pink Lady®, is the last apple harvested in Washington state in late October. Crisp fall nights bring on the bright pink color that gives the apple its name. Supplies of Cripps Pink last from November to August.

Origin



Introduction to market: 1985

Place of origin: Australia

Parentage: A cross of Golden Delicious and Lady Williams developed in a Western Australia breeding program.



CAMEO:



Description



Sweet with a zingy crunch, Cameo® holds its texture for long periods.



Look for the variety's characteristic white spots on the skin. The variety was discovered as a chance seedling in a Washington state orchard in the 1980s. Cameos® are harvested in September and October. Available October to August.

Origin



Introduction to market: 1987

Place of origin: Dryden, Washington

Parentage: Discovered as a chance seedling in Washington's Wenatchee River Valley.



CRISPIN:

(See Mutsu)



Criterion

Parentage / Origin: McIntosh x Ben Davis; Developed by New York Agricultural Experiment Station, 1898.

Harvest / Season: Harvest: Mid September to early October; Season: October - December

Description: Larger fruit with dark red skin underlaid with stripes. Crisp pure white flesh resists browning when cut. Tart tangy flavor. Dessert quality. Excellent for eating out of hand, cooking, and cider.

Tree Characteristics: Vigorous long lived tree is annually productive and starts bearing early. Excellent pollinator.



CORTLAND:



Parentage / Origin: McIntosh x Ben Davis; Geneva, New York 1915

View list of Cortland sport varieties

Harvest / Season: Harvest: September; Season: September through early October

Description: Very white crisp flesh. One of the best salad apples because it doesn't brown quickly.



EMPIRE:



Parentage / Origin: McIntosh x Red Delicious; Geneva, New York 1966

View list of Empire sport varieties

Harvest / Season: Harvest: September; Season: September through January

Description: Dark red with heavy, waxy bloom. Creamy white juicy, moderately subacid flesh. High dessert quality also good for cider.

Tree Characteristics: Vigorous upright early bearing tree with a strong wide crotch angle. Tendency toward spur type habit. Very consistent annual producer.



JONAGOLD:



Parentage / Origin: Golden Delicious x Jonathan; Developed at Geneva Station, introduced in 1968.

View list of Jonagold sport varieties

Harvest / Season: Harvest: mid September to late October; Season: September - November

Description: Large fruit striped red over bright yellow. Firm, crackling, juicy, slightly tart, flesh. Superb, rich, full flavor. Finest dessert and eating quality. Good cooking properties. Will store in common refrigerator for 3 months.

Tree Characteristics: Handsome sturdy vigorous spreading tree. Triploid



JONATHAN:



(Also known as: Philip Rick)

Parentage / Origin: New York, 1862

View list of Jonathan sport varieties

Harvest / Season: Harvest: October, Season: October - January

Description: Good eating and keeping apple. Medium-sized attractive fruit, striped red with high colour in spots. Flesh juicy and crisp. flavor refreshing and subacid.

Tree Characteristics: Tree naturally small, bears young, heavy crops. Self-fertile, better when cross-pollinated.



MCINTOSH:



Parentage / Origin: Ontario, Canada 1798

View list of McIntosh sport varieties

Harvest / Season: Harvest: September; Season: September - December

Description: Fruit beautiful deep red color, size variable. Flesh white, firm, tender, very juicy, flavor characteristically aromatic, perfumed, subacid.



NORTHERN SPY:



(Also known as: Red Spy, Red Northern Spy)

Parentage / Origin: New York, 1800

Harvest / Season: Harvest: late October; Season: October - February

Description: Large, round, often flattened greenish-yellow fruit flushed and striped pinkish red with a delicate bloom, and occasionally russet patches. Fine grained, rather firm, very tender, crisp, juicy, yellowish flesh. Tart, aromatic, subacid flavor. Excellent all purpose apple except not good for drying. Remarkably fresh after long storage.

Tree Characteristics: Very large vigorous tree. Biannual bearer. Slow to bear. Very hardy.



The proverb "An apple a day keeps the doctor away.", addressing the health effects of the fruit, dates from 19th century Wales. Research suggests that apples may reduce the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer. Compared to many other fruits and vegetables, apples contain relatively low amounts of vitamin C, but are a rich source of other antioxidant compounds. The fiber content, while less than in most other fruits, helps regulate bowel movements and may thus reduce the risk of colon cancer. They may also help with heart disease, weight loss, and controlling cholesterol, as they do not have any cholesterol, have fiber, which reduces cholesterol by preventing re-absorption, and are bulky for their caloric content, like most fruits and vegetables.



Care and Handling

Selection



1. An apple's skin should be shiny, not dull. This tip's important ... dull appearing apples won't be crisp and tasty.

2. Your apples should be firm and free of bruises and punctures.



Storage



Keep apples refrigerated at about 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Fruit bowls are beautiful, but your apples won't stay crispy for long on the countertop.



Preparation



Prepare apple dishes just before serving to minimize browning (oxidation). Protect cut apples from oxidation by dipping them into a solution of one part citrus juice and three parts water.


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