Identifying Heritage Apples Across Ontario
By Sherrell Leetooze
Publisher: Lynn Michael-John Associates
www.lm-jassociates.webs.com
Bowmanville-based historian and gardener Sherrell Leetooze enjoys taking walks in the country and would sometimes pick apples she came across on trees long standing on abandoned farmland and in wooded areas, but she didn’t know the variety.
She started to research the topic and has now released her latest book that details Ontario’s heritage or heirloom variety of apples, with most of these fruit varieties dating from trees that were planted between the World Wars.
The book breaks down the apples she has found and researched by counties in Ontario, along with when they ripen (fall varieties ripen in September and early-October, while winter apples ripen in late- October and November) and by variety.
The author gives a history of each apple and its origins, along with a description of the fruit and a critique of the taste and texture of the various types of apples. A colour photo accompanies each variety, to help readers identify the fruit.
As an example, two apples are the Wealthy and the Gideon, first developed by Minnesota farmer Peter Gideon. Through grafting, Gideon developed different varieties of apples. The Wealthy variety is named for his wife.
Author Sherrell (Sher) Leetooze is available for talks at local groups, and has developed a presentation on her research into apples. Contact her at sherleetooze@gmail.com.
