Turns out I’m not the only person obsessed by apples this time of year. In fact, my obsession is rather mild compared to that of Dan Bussey of Edgerton, Wisconsin. In addition to managing a four-acre orchard with 250 apple trees, he’s written a book describing 14,000 varieties of apples.
According to an article published in the October 17 edition of the Wisconsin State Journal, Bussey’s book “will become the definitive guide to apples in North America, a unique resource and the first comprehensive guide to apples in more than 100 years.”
Unfortunately, the article does not recommend any particular varieties and is really rather vague when it comes to the apples themselves, but it’s encouraging to learn of one more orchardist who is preserving old varieties. Read the article.
If you’re looking for sources of antique apples, here’s a guide to orchards of Wiscosnsin. And, if you’re hankering to grow some of these trees yourself, try Maple Valley Orchards.
