Yeah, that Gala thing bothers me. When they first came out they were marvelous! Then after a couple of years they changed, and I wonder why.

Aside from Honeycrisp, which are only around briefly (they're around right now), Fuji are my favorite, followed by Braeburn, a name which I originally remembered due to my superior mental training as a fanzine fan, re-parsing it as "B. Raeburn".

I was going to recommend Braeburns... but get the organic ones. I can totally taste a difference.

Honeycrisp has some great marketing. We still like the Haralson better.

K.

The Honeycrisp are giving me the joy that Gala used to give me. If only they weren't so expensive!

We like Cactus Willie's for BBQ in San Jose and environs.

K.

Crops forever.

At the end of last year's farmers market season in Lawrence a grower had many varieties of locally grown apples and was offering samples. I tried them all, then asked. Got told it had to be 'thus-and-such' (I think she said Macintosh but it's been a year) and I went, 'it cannot be, this is not tart enough."

The property my parents owned south of Wellsville, Kan. had the original homestead on it and an apple tree that was likely planted the same time the house had been built, likely in the post-civil-war era.

The apples were out-and-out, slap-you-inna-da-face tart, puckery even, when ripe. But they made the best apple sauces and pies because the apples held their texture when cooked, but got pleasantly, apple-y mellow with the addition of sugar. And it wasn't cared for so we had to be careful to make sure any 'guests' were removed before cooking. But I didn't mind. And I was the only one who liked eating them out of hand, though you could only eat about one before your mouth would go all puckery...

Tree died after being struck by lightning, and dad cut it down with a great deal of sadness. And he gave the farm house to my brother but it turned out it was unlivable and unrestorable--the foundation was rock without mortar, and the house had warped in two axes, making it impossible to budge doors or windows. And it was all walnut, which at that age could not have been jacked straight. My brother did end up salvaging it all for sale, plus made some nice things for all of us out of it.

I like Fujis and the occasional Rome or Gala, and I like Honeycrisp, but once in a while I go sideways to the sweet Pink Ladys. They're almost too sweet!

I am willing to bet some excessive breeding to enhance "positive" traits has ruined the Gala apple similar to what happened to the Red Delicious. The ones from BC taste much better than the dark red ones from Washington State. IIRC Washington State developed the "perfect" variety in that it looked perfect. Unfortunately it didn't taste as good as the original. I suspect this has happened with Gala Apples. I do see some visual difference from time to time with the Galas and I suspect some places are still using the old stock while others are growing a newer version of the Gala.

I tried a Honeycrisp for the first time this year. It was good but not an apple I would want on a regular basis.

My current favorite eating apple is called Fortune. It was developed in NY but there are a couple of growers around here who were selling them at the market this year. I should have bought more.:(

In addition to the Honeycrisp already mentioned, I recommend Piñata -- IF you can find them. Around here, they seem to be more rare than Honeycrisps. But, they're wonderful when you can get them.

Haralsons used to be my favorite. I suppose now I'd go with Fuji, but I still like Galas as long as they're fresh.