empire apples

[Scarlett]

Where have they gone??!
One minute they were happily on the shelf in Tescos, now they do not exist. I can't believe their season has run out??!
anyone?

[bigsister]

Don't know about Empire, but I love Estevals which are only in season for about a month! Tesco's are useless for local produce. Try a farmers market or farm shop.

[jake-the-peg]

Local apples in June!?

Where do you live?

I think a lot come in from places like Chile at this time of year don't they?

The pink lady ones are quite good at the moment.

I think we appreciate some things more because they're not there all year - I love fresh figs but the season seems so short

[nickmo]

Empire is an American /Canadian variety that will have been harvested at a failry immature state for storage (iodine tests are used to evaluate the amount of starch that tells the grower which fruit are suitable for harvesting for what purpose - selling for eating or storage for distribution)

Look our for Spartan if you have to have an imported variety - virtually the same apple, last harvesting around January. McIntosh is another US variety that may be about.

Red apples have higher anti-oxidant properties, so will be a bit better for you than green ones.

At the moment it is a little early to get a fresh British apple. Any marked from the UK will be from store. Apples have excellent storage capabilities, but a few like Early Strawberry are harvested from July onwards.

Have a look at the info on Apple Day - October 21st - at the CommonGround site: http://www.commonground.org.uk as there may be an event near you that you could go to and have some fun with apples later when the main crop is under way.

And as above - go to your local farmers' market if you want proper fresh food. Have a look at http://www.bigbarn.co.uk - register your details and there is a really useful locator map of the UK with markets, home delivery schemes, farm shops, PYOs, restaurants using local produce etc etc.

[Rebecca611]

They ran out in Sainsbury's too by the way. Just in case you decide to pop in.. they don;t have any left. They're yummy though, aren't they?!