Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
treatment. Curiously, despite having been bred under controlled conditions, Honeycrisp's
parentage is a bit of a mystery. Originally, it was thought to be a cross between Macoun
and Honeygold, but recent DNA testing has cast doubt on that.
W H E R E T H E Y' R E G R O W N: Apples are widely grown, but more than
half of the total national harvest and between 60 and 75 percent of the fresh harvest comes
from Washington State. New York, Michigan, California and Pennsylvania are also im-
portant producers. In Washington, apples are grown in the eastern foothills of the Cascade
Range, an apple-producing area since the early 1800s.
H O W T O C H O O S E: All apples should be smooth-skinned and deeply
colored. Yellow apples should be golden, and striped apples should have a background
color that is nearly golden. Apples should be heavy for their size and firm to the touch.
H O W T O S T 0 R E: Apples should be kept as close to 32 degrees and with as
much humidity as possible. Store them in an open or perforated plastic bag to retain mois-
ture without collecting water. Put the bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
H 0 W T 0 P R E PA R E: Apples are often waxed to slow moisture loss and
extend their shelf life. This wax is not petroleum based and is harmless, but if you want to
