When Europeans began to settle in the New World, they
brought apples with them – not to eat, but for cider. Fermented drinks were
less likely to harbor dangerous microorganisms than water, and apples were
easier to grow here than grapes or grain. Farmers cultivated a wide variety of
apples, primarily to extend the growing and harvesting seasons. At one time,
there were thousands of types of apples, with wildly different sizes, colors,
textures and flavors. Today, if you’re lucky, you’ll find eight kinds of apple
in your local grocery store. If you’re shopping for an apple tree, there are
even fewer choices. One apple farmer is trying to change that. Tom Brown has
made reclaiming lost heirloom apples his retirement hobby. So far, he’s ferreted
out and restored 1,200 lost heirloom varieties, with names like Yellow Potts,
Big Andy and Jellyflower. November 18 is Apple Cider Day: a good day to honor Tom Brown and his work.
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