I just learned about Honeycrisp apples this fall. They are great! I'll be on the lookout for them from now on.

Rather a harsh statement, and utterly untrue. However, most of the best California apples are only sold through local outlets, such as farmer's markets or direct from farm stands, so California apples shipped out of state may only be the second rate ones.

However, California grown Pippins are definitely the best - too harsh a winter, and they don't do well at all.

And really, is there an apple nastier than the poor, abused Red Delicious from Washington state that spend months in storage, and hit the supermarkets about March? Mushy, grainy and tasteless.

"Delicious" apples are anything but. :td:

The Honeycrunch (Honeycrisp's name in France) apples I had previously bought at Monoprix were more or less normal size. The ones I bought yesterday at Tang Freres are huge!

After my previous disappointment I wasn't planning to buy more, but this thread and the fact that they looked so good made me pick up two of them. Well... I was again disappointed. The texture is fine but the flavor is just not there. I guess I'll just have to continue my quest for finding crunchy, non-mealy, flavorful French apples.

HoneyKrisps (as my local apple orchard calls them) are indeed the best! We still have a few in our fridge. As a matter of fact, I think I'll have one now!

Oh my.
 

Just bought a Honeycrisp at Safeway.

Pretty amazing apple. super crisp and sweet.

Still love my Fujis, but may have to indulge in a few more of these, while they are around.

Honey Crisp!!! Yum! I found this wonderful variety 3 seasons ago and it is my favorite apple! Such a shame it had such a short growing season. If they are not available I'll buy Pacific Rose or Pink Lady - among other varieties.

I teach a horticulture class at a university and have to agree that this is a pretty incredible apple! I am amazed at the number of apple cultivars that have been created over the years... The real test of its merit will be how long it is around for....

One of the other professors teaches intro to horticulture and has an apple tasting lab every fall, in which the class has the opportunity to try some 50 apples that can be grown in IL! Most of the students are amazed at the flavor and qualities of some of these diverse apples (some of which have been around since the early 1800's). What a great fruit!

If they have the Washington label, it's very likely they were grown in or near Wenatchee, where I live, the "Apple Capital of the World." There's nothing like buying them from a roadside stand, picked off the tree a few hours earlier. One of our local fruit packers has a retail store where they sell all varieties (including Honeycrisp) for $0.79 - $0.99/lb. Another relatively new variety is Pinata, a cross between a Gold Delicious and a Cox Orange Pippin. The Pinata Apple won “Apple of the Year 2004” honors in Europe. Its flavor is very sweet and it has a softer texture. Personally, I still like Fuji apples the best.

I hate those "little labels!" Why do they use them?

1) it tells you where the fruit originated, and
2) they generally have the product code on them for the checker to use when you check out, or for you to use if you're in a self-check-out line.

Oh, my beloved Honeycrisps.......swoon!

I became an apple snob during a time when living in upstate NY. The apple cider doughnuts were pretty darn tasty, also! Pink lady and Gala varieties are also 2 favorites of mine.

:)

kid you not...
 

...I'm holding a Honeycrisp apple in my hand now that weighs 1.39 lbs. These things were grown on steroids this year. Last year they were all well under a pound each. LOL.

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William R. Sanders
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Red or Golden Delicious apples are both about equally bland; they're so-so when fresh, and pretty nasty when stored long times.

That said, even a so-so Delicious is pretty nice when fresh; I enjoy pretty much any variety of apple straight except for a few of the super-sour bakering ones.

If you thought it was good from Safeway, you ought to try them from an orchard. ^ ^

Just had the best honeycrisp of my life. Purchased at Harris Teeter.