All the talk this year regarding apples have been around the new SweeTango variety. It is a cross between a Zestar! and the popular Honeycrisp. It was developed at the University of Minnesota. It is grown by a cooperative of growers, called the Next Big Thing. This includes 45 members at this time, one of them being Stemilt Growers. The SweeTango apples I got to try were grown by Stemilt.

It was first released commercially last year, but only in small quantities. This year there will be more available, but you still have to act fast. As the trees grow and mature, SweeTango will become easier to find. Click here for a list of places that I have confirmed will have SweeTango. This apple is harvested in late August and early September, making it one of the first quality apples of the season.

The first thing you might notice about this apple is that is looks alot like a Honeycrisp. It is the same red color with a yellow breaking background. You will also notice the size of the apple. Young trees tend to produce large apples, as time goes on the tree will produce more, but smaller apples.

My Experience with this Apple (Rating Scale 1-10)
Crispiness: 10
Tartness : 5
Apple Flavor: 7
Sweetness: 5
Juiciness: 9

Overall Feeling: Before I took my first bite, I took some time to smell the apple. This apple is said to have hints of fall spices in it. When I smelled the bottom of the apple, it smelled like some kind of spice, almost like cinnamon or ginger. So then I sliced up the apple and watched the juice run down my knife. And finally the first taste, wow that’s one crisp apple. It for sure has the crispiness that the Honeycrisp is known for. Taste wise it has a nice balance of sweet and tart notes with a solid apple flavor. Now as for those fall spices, you could taste them as you shallow the apple.

Looking for SweeTango? Check out my page on where to find them.
Click here for everything apple related on my site.

Oh how I love root beer. There are so many great root beers on the market to choose from. I don’t think I will be ever done reviewing root beers (and that’s a good thing). Today I am going to review a root beer made by Sprecher, who is a brewery out of Glendale, Wisconsin. Their root beer comes either in a 16 oz glass bottle or a 20 oz plastic one. It has a picture of a crow coming out of a crest, holding a bottle of Sprecher and a frosty mug. The ingredient list on my bottle reads like this: carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, malto-dextrin, WI raw honey, natural & artifical flavors, sodium benzoate (preservative), phosphoric acid, quillaia/yucca extract, sodium chloride, caramel color, and vanilla. This root beer is caffeine and gluten free.

I liked this root beer. The flavor was nice, a bit on the sweet side, but in a good way. The carbonation was alright. I had a plastic bottle, so glass would be a better judge of carbonation. It’s not too spicy and goes down well with any meal. I will buy this again.

Where to Buy
Here are a few places where I know you can get Sprecher:
Ski’s Meat Market (Stevens Point, WI)
The Produce Station (Ann Arbor, MI)
Wilson’s Cheese Shoppe (Pinconning, MI)
Hiller’s (Ann Arbor/Detroit area)
Holiday Market (Livonia, MI)

Looking to buy it online, check out:
Located in Sabin, Minnesota, this store offers Sprecher Root Beer through their online business.

One of the best things to wash down your morning meal is grape juice. There is nothing like a good glass of Welch’s Grape. The grapes used in making this classic juice are concord. So if I like the juice, wouldn’t I also like the grapes? Well the only problem is that concord grapes have seeds in them, that can be difficult to deal with. However, there is another grape on the market that can bring you that concord flavor with the annoying seeds. The Thomcord grape was by combining the concord with the Thompson Seedless (the classic grape that you are most likely to find in your supermarket.). Thomcord grapes were developed in California during the 1980s. It wasn’t until around 2003 that they were ready for wide scale growing. The skin of the Thomcord is blue-black.

My Experience with these grapes
Tart/Sweet: Sweet
Seed/Seedless: Seedless
Grape Flavor (Rating Scale 1-10): 10

Overall Feeling: Wow, this are the most flavorful grapes I have ever had. The 1 lb container I bought advertises the rich concord taste and it is not false advertisement. Eating these grapes definitely makes you think of drinking the classic grape juice. The medium sized grape is excellent for out of hand eating, but could also be used for juice making or jelly just like it’s concord parent.

Availability: The grapes ripen in August. So far the only place I have been able to find them is at Trader Joe’s. They came packaged by Brandt Farms in Reedley, California. I also heard that you can buy them at Brennan’s stores in Wisconsin.

This year has been a “peachy” peach season here in Michigan. And as it comes to an end what better way to celebrate than with some peach soda. Peach has always been one of my wife’s favorite flavors of pop, so I was excited when I had the chance to acquire some Nehi Peach to share with her. Nehi has been around since 1924. It comes in a clear 12 oz glass bottle. The ingredients of Nehi Peach are: Carbonated water, sugar, citric acid, malic acid, potassium benzoate (preservative), potassium citrate, artificial flavor, gum acacia, red 40.

I knew I was in for a treat when I first popped the cap and my nose could detect a fresh peach scent, despite the fact the drink is artificially flavored. The flavorful was wonderful and you could not ask for the carbonation to be any better. You will be hard pressed to find carbonation this good in a plastic bottle or can. This peach soda pop is now at the top of my list (my wife’s too) of the best peach carbonated drinks. I look forward to getting my hands on some more Nehi beverages in the future.

Where to Buy
I got mine through the online business of the Old 52 General Store. They have other Nehi flavors available for purchase as well as over 300 other flavors of soda pop. Their physical store is located in Sabin, Minnesota.

Tomatoes are one of the most popular things to grow in one’s vegetable garden. And althought I am not a fan of raw tomatoes, I still make room for tomatoes for the purposing of making sauce. Last year, I tried some Roma tomatoes, but I didn’t really have a lot of success. So this year I wanted to try something different. So this past spring, I picked up some San Marzano tomatoes plants from my local farmer’s market. I have seen these tomatoes before in cans at grocery stores. Most of the canned tomatoes aren’t labeled by variety, so seeing a tomato that is market in a can by it’s variety, makes me think that these may be some pretty good sauce tomatoes. Also the high sticker price on the cans, makes me really think these have to be good tomatoes or the public is having the wool pulled over their eyes.

Some background on the San Marzano:
Origin: Napes of Italy. Italy is where they became famous by the legend goes that they got their first seeds from the king of Peru. This happened in 1770, so this definately qualifies San Marzano has an heirloom variety.
Vine Type: Indeterminate
Days to Maturity: 85 days
Shape: Plum

My Growing Experience this Year (2010)
These tomatoes have done very well in my garden. One plant has produced enough tomatoes to cover several pizzas. As the calendar is ready to turn over to September, the plant continues to grow and produce more fruit. The tomatoes tend to produce in bunches which makes for easy picking. The flavor of the tomato is sweet and low on the acidity. I have made some of the best tomato sauce with these tomatoes. I will definately grow this again next year, in fact I am going to try and save some seeds for next year.

A few weeks ago, I saw some pictures of Clapps Favorite pears on a farm’s facebook page. Their comments made me really want to try this pear, so I searched it out, and purchased some at the farmer’s market in Port Huron. The pear is green with some red blush. The amount of blush differs in each pear. I had some with a lot, but most only had a little bit.

Clapp’s Favroite ripens about 2 weeks before the popular Bartlet pears, which makes it one of the earlier pears. These pears must be picked before they have fully ripened on the tree or their core will rot along before the consumer has a chance to eat them. Since these pears do not keep well you probably won’t find them in the supermarket, your local farm is the best option. But you must act quickly as the season is short for these pears.

My Experience with this Pear (Rating Scale 1-10)
Texture: 8
Pear Flavor: 7
Sweetness: 7
Juiciness: 9

Overall Feeling: This is a real juicy and flavorful pear. It has a nice texture to it, not too grainy. If you like Bartlet pears, you are going to love Clapp’s Favorite. This pear is good for eating out of hand or in cooking applications. It’s one pear I will be sure to pick up when they are in season.

When it comes to the ingredients in a good soda pop, the fewer ingredients is usually better. That is what you get with Virgil’s Black Cherry Cream. It contains only the following ingredients: Purified carbonated water, unbleached cane sugar, vanilla extract, black cherry flavor, natural flavors, malic acid.

Just as the other Virgil’s flavor this one comes in a 12 oz glass bottle with a wonderful message around the bottle’s neck.

“Virgil’s Black Cherry Cream Soda is a classic cream soda recipe made naturally using the finest vanilla beans and unrefined cane sugar. The brewing process gives Virgil’s, a rich, creamy body and a taste so pure, you’ll swear it’s made in heaven. We searched the world for the perfect black cherry cream taste. We hope you will find this to be the best cream soda you have ever tasted.”

This is one really good black cherry soda. It has a genuine cherry taste, not like that cough syrup your parents might have shoved down your throat when you were a kid. You first taste the cherry, and then the vanilla hits you. It has a nice amount of carbonation with a creamy texture. This is definitely one of the top black cherry sodas on the market.

Where to Buy
Virgil’s is becoming available at more and more places. I typically buy it at Whole Foods, who seems to carry the most flavors and they often have sales. Meijer store in the midwest are now carrying Virgil’s. You can also buy their root beer at Trader Joe’s.

Another great place to pick up Virgil’s soda is from the Old 52 General Store in Sabin, Minnesota. They have a great online business where you can buy over 300 flavors!

One of the most wonderful times of year in Michigan is apple season. It’s a tradition (or should be) for every Michigan resident to visit an apple orchard to pick their own apples right off the tree, buy some freshly made donuts, that you can wash down with delicious apple cider. Since it’s been a warm summer, the apple u-pick season is beginning early this year. Some farms already have apples for you to pick. A lot of places will be opening up within the next 2 weeks.

Here is a list of what is going on at u-pick apple orchards across the metro Detroit/Ann Arbor area. Counties include Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne.

Macomb County
1. Blake Farms in Armada, MI are currently offering these apples for u-pick: Early MacIntosh, Paula Reds, Ginger Golds, and Early Jonathon. For more information visit their website or call them at 586-784-5343

2. Hys Cider Mill in Romeo, MI will have u-pick apples available starting in September. They are open weekends 11am-6pm until November. For more information call (810) 798-3611

3. Miller’s Big Red Apple Orchard in Romeo, MI (Washington Township) will have u-pick this year. For more information visit their website or call (586)752-7888

4. Stony Creek Orchard in Romeo, MI (Bruce Township) will have u-pick this year. For more information visit their website or call 586-752-2453

5. Westview Orchards in Washington Township, MI currently has Ginger Gold apples available for u-pick. For more information visit their website or call 866-WVO-4-FUN

Monroe County
1. Bennett’s Orchard in Ottawa Lake, MI will have u-pick apples available this season. They have different varieties ripening each week. For more information visit their website or call 734-854-2523

2. Erie Orchards in Erie, MI will have these varieties available this season: Paulareds, McIntosh, olden and Red Delicious, Northern Spy, Granny Smith, Ida Reds, Winesap and Jonathans.) For more information http://www.erieorchards.com or call 734-848-4518

Oakland County
Long Family Orchard & Cider Mill in Commerce Township, MI will have u-pick apples around the middle of September. For more information visit their website or call 248-360-3774

Washtenaw County
1. Wasem Fruit Farm in Milan, MI will have the following apples for u-pick this season:
Sept 9th: Gala, McIntosh, Prime Gold
Sept 17th : Cortland, Empire, Jonathan
Sept 24th: Red Delicious, Golden Delicious
Oct 1st: Rome Beauty, Ida Red
Oct 15th: Granny Smith
They have a ½ bushel minimum. For more information visit their website or call 734-482-2342

2. Lutz Orchard in Saline, MI (Directions: 4 miles SW of Saline. Take Monroe St. S from US-12 in Saline. Monroe becomes Macon Road at city limits, 11030 Macon Road, corner of Braun Rd) will have u-pick apples in October. For more information, including their hours call them at 734-429-5145

3. Wiard’s Orchards in Ypsilanti, MI will have these apples available for u-pick this year: McIntosh, Jonathan, Empire, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Ida-Reds, Fuji, Honey Crisp, Cameo and Ruby Jon. For more information visit their website or call them at 734-390-9211

Wayne County
Apple Charlie’s in New Boston, MI will have these apples available for u-pick this year (dates are approximate start dates)
August 28th-29th: Galas, McIntosh, Joanthan
Sept 11th: Empire, Red Delicious, Yellow Delicious
Oct 1st: Winesap, Monroe, Jonagold, Fuji
For more information visit their website or call (734)753-9380

Everyone drinks root beer. Well pretty much everyone. But what about birch beer? You may have seen it on a store shelf near you and wondered what it was. Well now you can find out as I review Boylan’s Creamy Red Birch Beer. Birch beer is made from the bark of the birch tree. It is similar to root beer, except I think it has more of a wintergreen taste. It’s a nice alternative to root beer and can be used to make floats just like root beer.

Boylan’s Creamy Red Birch Beer contains the following ingredients: carbonated water, cane sugar, pure birch oils, natural flavors, vanilla, natural yucca extract, vanillin, citric acid, caramel color, red 40, sodium benzoate (preserves freshness).

This drink is the reason to give birch beers a try. It’s a wonderful creamy drink with a lot of complex flavor. It would make an excellent float. The amount of carbonation is perfect. It’s the best birch beer I have ever had, so you should give it a try too!

Where to Buy
I purchased this flavor at Busch’s in Saline, Michigan. It can be found at quite a number of places. Click here to see some places you can buy Boylan’s products in Michigan.

If you are looking for a place online to buy Boylan’s check out:
they have a great selection of Boylan’s flavors including Creamy Red Birch Beer, Original Birch Beer, Lemon, Ginger Ale, and more!

If you are wondering if there is still time to pick peaches in Michigan this season, the answer is yes. But the peach season is almost over. The last season varieties are becoming available, so you should be able to find a couple places in Michigan still picking peaches through Labor Day weekend. After that everywhere should be done for the year.

STILL OPEN FOR U-PICK

1. Fruit Acres Farm in Coloma, MI are open for u-pick each weekend through labor day. They will have Glowing Star, White Peaches, and Nectarines currently. They will have Fayette peaches during Labor Day weekend. Cost is $.75 pound up to 35 pounds, and $.65 pound over 35 pounds. For more information you can call them at (269) 468-5076 or visit their website.

2. Erie Orchards in Erie, MI are should still have Cresthaven and Red Skin peaches available for picking. They cost $1.29/pound) for u-pick. For more information you can call them at 734-848-4518 or visit their website.

3. Nyes Apple Barn in St. Joesph, MI may have some last season varieties available. They charge 69 cents per pound. You can either bring your own basket or purchase one of theirs. U-Picks hours are 9am to 5:30pm. Please call ahead to check on picking conditions. Their number is (269) 429-0596 or you can visit their website.

4. Overhiser Orchards in South Haven, MI may have some last season varieties still available. To find out what they are currently picking call 269-236-6312. You can also visit their website.

5. Frank Farms in Berrien Center, MI may still have some late season varieties available for u-pick. For more information, call them at 269-461-4125. You can also visit their website.

6. Schultz Fruitridge Farms in Mattawam, MI may still have some late Flaming Fury and Coral Star. For picking conditions call 269-668-3724. You can also visit their website.

7. Big Dan’s U-Pick ‘Em in Hartford, MI (about 35 miles west of Kalamazoo) has Fayette peaches for picking but they may not last through Labor Day weekend. They could have Autumn Star peaches available for u-pick. They are open daily 10am to 6pm. Their phone number is (269) 621-4037. Click here for their website.

8. Stover’s Farm Market and U‐Pic in Berrien Springs may still have peaches left to pick. The vareties of u-pick peaches available during the season (July-September): Red Haven, Crest Haven, Glo Haven, Baby Gold, Red Skins. To find out what they are picking today, call 269‐471‐1401. Click here for their website.

U-PICK PEACH SEASON IS OVER AT
1. Kapnick Orchards located in Britton, MI is NO LONGER has u-pick this year. I picked there on Saturday, August 7th. Click here to read about my experience. They will have apples shortly. Their phone number is (517) 423-7419 or visit their website.

2. Hazen’s Farm in Howell, MI DID NOT have u-pick peaches this year. I was told by a friend they didn’t have a good crop. If you still wish to contact them you can reach them at (517) 548-1841 or visit their website.

3. Westview Orchards in Washington Township, MI are CLOSED for u-pick peaches for the season. They may still have peaches available for purchase, but these are already picked. They are open daily from 9am – 5pm. For more information you can call them at (866)WVO-4-FUN or visit their website.

4. Tree-Mendus Fruit in Eau Claire, MI are done harvesting peaches this year. They do have apples available for u-pick. For more information call for their Ripe-N-Ready Report by dialing 877-863-3276. Click here for their website.

What are the advantages to picking your own peaches?. Click here to read my article on shopping for peaches.