Featured from top to bottom: Empire, Spy Gold, Red Delicious and Northern Spy

Apple season is one of my favorites. I adore the varieties that are overflowing in wooden crates at the farmers market and of course apple picking. This year we went apple picking earlier than usual, where I was able to shoot the feature in Rose & Ivy, A Day at the Orchard, but there were only a few varieties of organic apples available. Now that we are later in the season there are so many different types that I wanted to take the guess work out of in-season apples. The profiles of 14 different varieties below will take you through the last harvest and will deliver a high-dose of Vitamin C and fiber, two benefits of consuming this fruit. Because as they say, 'An apple a day, keeps the doctor away'. Indeed!

First Photograph (Top to Bottom)

Empire - Named after New York, the Empire State, these apples are perfect for cooking and baking. They add a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness to various desserts like apple pie.

Spy Gold - A juicy apple with a syrup-like taste that would be perfect incorporated into a dessert or eaten alone.

Red Delicious - This variety that I personally will not touch in store is a must eat once the season rolls around. Unlike the store bought variety, when plucked from a tree they are perfectly crisp and sweet.

Northern Spy - A green and red apple that is tart and juicy and is an excellent option for baking or for eating by itself.

From top right: Fortune, Jonah Gold, Senshu, Cortland, Elstar, Stayman, Macoon, Cameo, Mutsu, Macintosh

Second Photograph (top right to left)

Fortune - A red and green apple variety that is great for incorporating into apple sauce or apple pie.

Jonah Gold - A cross between a Golden Delicious apple and a Jonathan, this red-tinged apple is bursting with sweetness and is perfect for eating as is or with some hard cheeses.

Senshu - Less sweet and tart than the majority of apples, this variety has a faint honey flavor and is great eaten as is or baked.

Cortland - A medium apple that is perfect for baking.

Elstar - A fairly large apple that tastes like a pear, but with a tarter appeal. These are great for baking or for the apple lover that likes an apple that is not so sweet.

Stayman - A green and tart apple that is typically very large in size. This apple would be perfect dipped in caramel.

Macoon - Considered to be one of the best tasting apples when plucked straight from tree, this variety is best eaten as is.

Cameo - A cross between a Red Delicious and Golden Delicious, this bright red apple is incredibly sweet perfect for snacking.

Mutsu - Also known as Crispin apples, this variety has the tartness close to a granny smith apple but with the crispness of a Honey Crisp apple.

Macintosh - Since this apple tends to be mealier than most it is the perfect addition to apple pies, tarts and muffins.

Photography & Styling by Alison Dulaney-Engstrom

All of the apple varieties were tasted by Rose & Ivy with insight from New England Apple Grower Association

A Guide to Fall Apples