If there is one apple that I am surprised isn’t available in grocery store across the country, it has to be the Crimson Crisp apple. This very firm, tart, but with some sweetness, pretty red apple variety is the subject of this week’s podcast episode. I have had this apple all across the country and am telling its story. Take a listen and then go for a search for it in your area.

I just created a brand new blog post on my blog Eat Like No One Else, that shares What a Crimson Crisp Apple Tastes Like, so make sure to check that out as well.

In this week’s episode, I am talking about a really, really, really (did I say really) old apple variety from Russia. It is called Duchess of Oldenburg. I live in an area with strong Russian influence, so I was able to find this apple variety for the first time this year. While not being an apple that will ever catch on in the mainstream, it is a variety that has been used to create other apples that are popular these days.

In this week’s podcast episode I am sharing an apple that is so rare in the United States, I couldn’t find anyone else growing it from a Google search, except for the farm I got them at. This early-ripening unique apple variety can have a red flesh if allowed to mature enough later into the season and is known for having a berry-like flavor to it.

I used my single serving apple cobbler recipe to test out how it does when baked and I was very pleased with the flavor these apples have when they are baked. It may get soft fast for eating but that doesn’t stop you from using it as an excellent baking apple. So take a listen to today’s episode to learn all I know (which isn’t a lot honestly!) about this rare apple.

Last fall I discovered an heirloom apple variety that is grown in the Pacific Northwest, called the Spokane Beauty. It has been around since the 1800s, originally from an apple seed that actually turned into an apple of note. What stands out about the Spokane Beauty apple is its size. Learn how big they get in this week’s podcast episode.

When my family was full-time RVing around the country, one of my favorite stops was up in Maine. I was there for the entire month of August and into September. So that means I got to be there for the beginning of the apple season.

One of the varieties that I found while I was there was called Vista Bella. It is an early-season apple variety and the subject of this week’s podcast episode, so take a listen above to learn more!

Back in 2021, I had one amazing apple season, traveling from Maine down to Tennessee. I went apple picking several times, starting up in Maine. This is where I picked Prima apples at Hooper’s Orchard. This variety is the subject of today’s podcast episode.

On a side note, I had my first apple u-pick experience of the 2026 season, I got a ton of Akane apples, which I talked about on the podcast last season. The apple is also known as Toyko Rose.

Over the next 3 podcast episodes I am going to be talking about the history and how it is going today for some early season apple varieties. I will share a special tip in each podcast episode about early season apples.

The first episode in this 3-part miniseries is about the Paula Red apple. I have found these apples all over the Midwest and Northeast parts of the country. They are a variety that starts out tart and crisp, but gets sweeter and softer in a short amount of time. Paula Red is one of my favorite options for applesauce at the start of the apple season.

You can learn even more about this variety by visiting my blog - What to Do with Paula Red Apples?

The picture above is of the Columbia River in Wentachee, Washington. I took a trip there last month. Even thought it wasn’t time for apples yet, I got to learn first hand why Washington grows so many of our nation’s apples. I share all about that in the first episode of the new season of the podcast - Apples from Yesterday to Tomorrow.

* 🍎 I keep a running 🍎✅❌ Buy & Skip Apple Guide, which is a list of apples based on what I’m actually seeing in stores right now—what’s worth the price, and what isn’t, so you don’t waste your money on disappointing apples. Paid subscribers get access to it, updated throughout the year as quality changes. You’ll also get access to my apple e-book and store guides, which break down how I find and evaluate different varieties in real-world grocery shopping.

Not ready to commit? You can try it out with a 7-day free trial.

If you listened to last week’s podcast episode, you might be very confused by the title of this week’s episode. Last week I was all about sharing Why Summer is a Bad Time for Apples. But this week I am saying it’s a good time for apples. That’s because summer is really the best of times and the worst of times when it comes to apples. It all comes down to the season actually starting in the summer.

Next month we will have the earliest apple varieties being harvested (Transparent and Lodi!)! Isn’t that wild!

Take a listen to today’s episode and find out why summer is a Jekyll and Hyde season for apples, so you can have the complete picture of buying apples in the summer.

The 2025-2026 season of the podcast is winding down now. Only a few episodes left before the July break. As we are a few days away from the first day of summer, I wanted to do an episode that I am calling “Why Summer is a Bad Time for Apples”. I will share my thoughts on what the cons of summers are for fresh apple eating.

You’ll want to take a listen to see what apples I can still recommend this time of year.

* Want to know what other fruits besides apples are good this month? Check out my post - 🍓 June Fruit Picks: Apples & Beyond (What’s Worth Buying Now)