 Fall.
Also called The Donut Apple. Unknown parentage. The only known mature
tree is on Charette Hill in Fort Kent, Aroostook County. Thought to
be about 200 years old. The massive tree has 4 huge main trunks and
is in vibrant health. Introduced to me by life-long fruit explorer,
Garfield King of Fort Kent, who has been taking me on annual exploration
tours of northern Aroostook for the past few years. Garfield's own
yard is a cross between a trial orchard and an arboretum. The Charette
apples are huge, oblate and almost always seedless. In fact, the tree's
owners found one seed two years ago which we're currently stratifying
in Fedco's basement, hopefully to be germinated this coming spring.
The blossom end of each fruit is sunken in toward the stem, so much
so that when sliced perpendicular to the core, the slices look like
donuts. Hence the name. It is excellent for fresh eating and drying.
Very light in weight, but juicy none the less. Ripens about the end
of September. Light yellow skin with splotches of dark yellow and
covered with maroon streaks and a bright red blush. May have been
brought to Fort Kent as a seed, scion, or seedling by French missionaries
in the 18th century. Extremely hardy. |
