In contrast to most the apple varieties that we’ve had, Red Rubins aren’t an American bred variety. A cross between Gala and Elstar, Red Rubins were bred by the Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti (Italian Consortium of Nurseries) in Ferrara, Italy in the 1960’s. They’re a bit smaller in size, but have an intense apple flavor and a superb crunchy texture.
Snowsweets are a University of Minnesota breed variety introduced in 2006. They have a somewhat savory flavor that’s almost buttery as well as bright white flesh that oxidizes slowly. With those two attributes in mind, these apples would be great for salads or on a cheese/charcuterie board.
A favorite tool I use when writing these blurbs is the website Apple Rankings. Written by comedian Brian Frange, it often gives extremely harsh but comical reviews of apple varieties. I’ll leave a blurb here from Apple Ranking’s review of Cortlands, but I promise these are tastier than it makes it sound.
Discovered in 1898, in the remarkably not Cortland city of Geneva, NY this flattened McIntosh sandbag of shit continues the age-old tradition of dragging the apple reputation of New York State into the sewer.
