Summer Rambos

Summer Rambos and Honey Crisps, the season has truly begun. There are many early season apples: Jonogold, Mott's Pink, Queen Cox and even some Gravensteins. But most very early seasonal apples are soft, I prefer the more tart firm apples, really starting with the classic Granny Smith and moving up the scale.

Heritage strains on the table

From a farmers market in Allentown, PA. Summer Rambos are rarely seen this far north these days but have been grown in Pa for at least 150 years old.  It's also called the Western Beauty, Rambour Franc, and Rambour d'Ete. At least two different varieties have carried the name. They may be a third related variety in Ohio there called the "Big Rambo" also called the Hoadley. From the name I expected that  the variety has a distant origin in France.  Further research puts that date at as early as 1535.

Molly's Delicious is a much more recent variety first bred in the 1960s. The Peceniak site has the following to say. I've never tried it myself. "It should not to be confused with Red Delicious strains, but having a more unique complex flavor with a juicy crisp flesh. The apple is mostly red with light yellowish/green background."