Category: Fruit
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Johnny Appleseed for Grownups: It was all about Hard Cider!
At this time of year, school kids across the county get treated to the story of Johnny Appleseed…that guy of old who walked around the country with a cooking pot on his head, spreading apple seeds hither and yon. Sometimes, the kids get treated to a trip to an orchard, but they usually at least make…
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Aw, Snap!
Sugar Snap that is…and not the peas – the apples! The name says it all: they are not too sweet and not too tart, have a great flavor and crunch, and they’re quite juicy. We think they have the quintessential apple flavor and texture when your brain thinks of the word ‘apple’. Most everyone just…
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The Sansa Sensation!
Sansa is a delightfully fruity and sweet early apple. Not commercially ‘pretty’, perhaps, with its non-solid pinkishyellowish/lightly russet-y color scheme, but it certainly looks beautiful to us! And you know we at North Star do not care much about looks anyway – it’s flavor that counts! Every year when the Sansa start coming in, I…
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Sansa: Your Pick of the Week!
You are in for a real treat this week and next as you discover (or re-discover!) the Sansa apple. Don’t let the unassuming, “unattractive” appearance of this gem fool you. Remember the old adage, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’. Here at North Star, you are wise to do likewise with fruit appearance. We…
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Amazing Announcement for Local Food Fans!
Are you an early adopter as well as a Foodie? Then you’re going to LOVE this! NEW this season from North Star Orchard: home-bred and home-grown bananas from one of Pennsylvania’s most unique orchards! You know we already go crazy ‘round here growing over 300 hundred varieties of unique and heritage apple varieties, as well as 3000+varieties…
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On the Weather, Math, and How to Avoid Developing an Ulcer
Welcome to “Warm Winter #2” (the implied #1 herein referred to being last winter, 2016). Here at NSO, we’re starting to get a bunch of questions about tree health due to the weather being so warm. So, here goes some info – dive in as little or as much as you’d like to! (Note: a post-snow…
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Star Trek: NSO – “The Fascinating Forcefield”
“Captain, although primitive, this forcefield is nontheless quite effective against larger pest species from the rodent family.” Indeed, you are correct as usual, Spock. We call these “tree guards” and they do a good job at keeping hungry rabbits from nibbling the bark of fruit trees. Apparently, they are also quite effective in trapping Starfleet…
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Star Trek: NSO – “The Pruning Predicament”
“Indeed, Dr. McCoy” replied Mr. Spock. “It would be logical at this juncture to confer with the natives of this area for assistance with this challenge.” Happy to oblige, Spock and Bones! Join us for a Pruning Field Day in March (choose the 5th or 11th) to learn the hows and whys of pruning fruit trees. Note…
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These are Not Your (Grand)Mother’s Concords!
Seedy snotballs of goo with thick unchewable skin. Sounds gross, eh? Well, that, if you think about it, is how you might describe the texture of a Concord grape. Oh my, yuck. Sure, the flavor can be outstanding, but I’d rather it in juice or jelly form, thank you. For those of us who grew…
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Even Fruit Passes Gas
Have you ever put fruit in a paper bag to let it get a bit more ripe? Or been told to place an apple or a banana with an avocado to make it ripen faster? These are not “old wives tales” but rather tried and true ripening tricks caused by ethylene gas. Science lesson of…
