While many things in my life have changed recently, one thing remains the same. Uncle Joe’s apple delivery.
It’s a tradition that began several years ago. Living in prime apple country, my Auntie Sue (my mom’s sister and the most thoughtful gift giver in the family) wisely decided to forego giving Christmas presents to our multiple family members. Instead, she came up with the idea of the autumnal delivery of apples. Lots of apples.
Joe and Sue would purchase them from the local orchard, hurl the cartons in the trunk and then hop in the car for the five-hour drive down to the coast. Originally the delivery was made to my parents’ house. However, as the house was sold and family members grew up and moved out of town, the point of delivery for the last five years has been my house located just minutes from the freeway.
With time, as his wife fell ill, Joe’s focus changed. Worried about her being alone for long periods he’d drive down by himself, stay for a quick bite to eat and then head on back home. This roundtrip effort took 10 hours.
Over the years, the type of apples changed. The originals were routinely Red Delicious and the ever popular McIntosh. However, this changed in 2004. Unfortunately that year the McIntoshes were beyond ripe and harboured moths. Once in the warmth of our homes, hundreds awoke and took flight. Determined to protect our aunt and uncle’s feelings, we got Mom to gently suggest a different crop for the following year.
They rose to the occasion splendidly. Over the years since we’ve been treated to both Red and Yellow Delicious, Spartans and Honeycrisp.
The 2013 crop was no exception.
Red and Yellow Delicious reside in the middle box, Honeycrisp in the carton on the left and Spartans on the right.
My personal favourite? The Honeycrisp. They are juicy, firm and crunchy; the perfect eating apple.
For baking, I prefer the Yellow Delicious. The picture on the right is what remains of my first effort with this year’s numbers. A whole wheat apple cake, it called for unsweetened applesauce. The Yellow Delicious stewed up nicely.
Besides being treated with an abundance of delicious fruit, an added bonus of this generous gift is that I get to see not only Uncle Joe, but the rest of the family members living in the Lower Mainland.
As the apples are best when at their peak, their delivery must be dealt with in a timely fashion. In the past couple of days I’ve dropped a load off at my sister’s, visited with my mom while making her delivery and had my brother over for dinner. I feel bad for the out-of- towners. Indeed, my children responded quickly to the delivery announcement with emphatic pleas to send them some immediately by mail. I’m tempted. It depends how many are left by the end of the week…
Sadly, Joe has been a widower since July 2012. It hasn’t been easy on him. The fact that he would gather the strength to continue this annual pilgrimage speaks volumes about his character and his sense of devotion to Sue. Thankyou Joe. She would be so happy that you’ve carried on with the tradition. We certainly are.
10 Responses
Aw! Your family is just the loveliest. How wonderful that your uncle continues to get the annual apples and that it’s something that is so special to your entire family!! I just love family traditions like this. –Lisa Ps. And I am totally going to try some Honeycrisp apples.I usually pick up Braeburns!
Yes do try the Honeycrisp Lisa. I love Braeburns too. Both are at the top of my list for Best Apple.
You had me at “Honeycrisp”! When I was in Minneapolis last weekend we stopped at a farmstand and got a bunch of honeycrisp for my friend to make a gluten free apple crisp. I’m surprised there were any apples left for her to cook with!
I love that Uncle Joe is carrying on the tradition. Hopefully it brings him some comfort to know how much it means to the family and how much it reminds everyone of Aunt Sue.
Are they not the most delicious apples, the honeycrisp? Yes, I think that he does find comfort in carrying on the tradition. He left my house with a bounce in his step!
I have been eating my allotment at random, without knowledge of their names. I notice their varied freshness and taste. Last night we used some in a salad with lettuce from our garden. Thank you Sue and Joe!
So funny you are eating them willy nilly. Now you can consult the photo in this piece to see which is which! Perfect. Love that you threw some in a salad made with your own lettuce. How are your pumpkins coming along? My front steps are in need of one or two …
Knowing Uncle Joe, I also admire his tenacity in, every year, making the long highway trip down to the Coast. He leaves behind his tremendous pile of cut wood with more logs to be chopped and piled, rocks to be spectrofied or whatever it is he does to them, etc. and takes the time to give us our wonderful early presents. As I receive Okanagan peaches from friends in September, I am delighted to give them a few apples in reurn. Thank you for feeding him before he hurtles back to his cabin where he is so busy preparing for winter.
You express his world so well! Yes, I too admire that tenacity. Good that you can spread those apples around too. There’s more here when you need them!
What a lovely tradition! My family is eating our way through the 45 pounds of apples we picked a few weeks ago – our favorites are Ida Red. So nice to meet you, Kelly. When I read your “My Story” page, I thought for a second I was looking at a photo of you with my dog! My Nellie and your Poppy have such similar faces; they’re both cuties!
Hi Dana! Nice to meet you too. 45 pounds of apples! That’s fantastic. Ida Reds are new to me – however Wikipedia tells me they are tart and juicy and perfect for baking. Sound delicious. That is too funny about your Nellie and my Poppy. Just got back from a walk with her and she’s currently eyeing the apples that have been winnowed down to one carton from three. So far she’s stayed away from them …