Northern Spy Apples Delivery or Pickup

The Northern Spy apple is one of the most famous apples originating in the U.S. in East Bloomfield New York around 1800 from a seed that came from Salisbury, Connecticut. From seed, the Northern Spy takes a decade to produce its first apple harvest. It continues to be grown mostly in northeastern U.S. and remains a popular apple in this area. It's usually picked in the autumn months of October and November while being used during the winter months. This apple is known to be a hearty winter variety due to its late-season ripeness. 

Northern Spy apples have a crisp and yellowish flesh that is juicy and tart with a cider and sweet flavor. They have a reddish color with some yellow and bits of green. When it comes to nutritional value, these apples also contain a lot of dietary fiber which is essential to a healthy diet, and the skin contains vitamins A and C. Given the nutritional value of the apple there's no wonder the old saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," rings true.

This apple is not as commercially available as other varieties because it's not perfect. Since it doesn't have a perfect round shape, not bright enough colors, and is susceptible to diseases, this apple is not as common in stores. It still commands the attention of those passionate for classic apples though, so it can still be found in season in markets, specialty stores, and grocery stores.

Prized for its capabilities to help make delicious apple desserts, the Northern Spy apple is a great fruit to try out in your next pie recipe. In fact, this particular apple is the go-to apple when it comes to making classic apple pies in certain parts of the country, especially in the northeastern states. 

If you're in the store trying to figure out whether a Northern Spy apple is ripe or not, look for a shiny, bright color on the skin. The flesh inside should also feel hard to the touch and not soft. To tell if they've gone bad, the skin of the apple shouldn't look dull or aged. If you press the skin with your fingers, and it leaves a mark on the apple or is very soft, it means the apple is over ripe.

Finding these apples is not very easy due to its later ripening season and regional growth area, so if you find yourself with some Northern Spy apples and you're wondering how to enjoy them besides taking a bite, let's go over some of the different ways these apples can be prepared at home.

Northern Spy apple pie: The classic dessert that never fails to delight, use Northern Spy apples to get a sweet and tangy flavor that is unique to this apple. Given they ripen later in autumn, they're a great apple to use for a Thanksgiving apple pie.

Apple cider: Northern Spy apples are a great choice to make apple cider. Given their slightly bitter, acidic, and sweet combination, it makes for a perfect choice to make cider. There are some cider companies that are selling northern spy cider. Cider can be paired with cheese, fish, and vegetable dishes. 

Apple crisp: Another classic fall recipe, you can use Northern Spy apples to make apple crisp. Use flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon as staples for the recipe. This is a great dessert and snack with a little bit of vanilla ice cream on top. 

Applesauce: Simply use Northern Spy apples to make an applesauce. You can use the apple alone or combine with Granny Smith and other varieties. Mash the apples, cinnamon, sugar, brown sugar, and raisins (optional) to a pulp.

Apple cider vinegar: Known for its health benefits, apple cider vinegar is made from the scraps and peels of the apple. Use the scraps of about six to eight apples, two tablespoons of sugar, and water to make your own cider vinegar. It takes about a month to complete the process and enjoy.