Walk into any grocery store these days and you'll be confronted with a dizzying array of apples. Although available year around, apples especially evoke the essence of fall: apple harvest, apple cider, apple bobbing, caramel apples, etc. And why not? The crisp, sweetness of an apple in the fall makes me think of cooler days, bonfires, and changing leaves.
According to the Virginia State Apple Board (www.virginiaapples.org), Virginia is known for many varieties of apples, including Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Winesap, and Rome. Each variety has its own distinct taste and use, so now is the time of year to experiment! The tart taste of a Granny Smith apple is completely different from the sweet, juicy Red Delicious apple.