Apples

As the seasons change so do the foods we eat. Here in Ohio we are very lucky to have a wide variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables, so that with every season change we can still eat fresh, home grown produce.

As we enter into October and November, Ohio's apples top the list of good choices. We have a huge selection to choose from, each with their own special properties. Here are some of autumn's best from Ohio:

Honeycrisp - Excellent for eating but not recommended for sauces or baking. They freeze best in slices.

Cortland - Good for eating but even better for sauces and baking. Not great for freezing.

Jonagold - Excellent for eating and baking. Makes good sauce, but not recommended for freezing.

Empire - Excellent for eating and good for sauce and baking. Freeze these as sauce, but not in slices.

Red Delicious - Excellent for eating and good for baking. They are not good for sauce. Should not be frozen.

Golden Delicious - Excellent for eating and baking and very good for sauce. Freeze these in either slices or sauce.

Melrose - Excellent for eating and for sauce and very good for baking. Can be frozen as slices or sauce.

Suncrisp - Strictly an eating apple. Not really good for sauces, baking or freezing.

Idared - Maybe the perfect apple. Excellent in eating, sauce, baking and freezing in any form.

Law Rome - Good for eating and sauce, but really shines in baking. Freeze in slices.

Winesap - Good for eating and sauce. Excellent for baking. Freeze in slices or sauce.

Fuji - Excellent for eating and baking, but not recommended for sauce. Freeze in slices.

Goldrush - Another perfect example. Excellent for eating, sauce, baking and can be frozen in any form.

Granny Smith - Only rates "fair" in eating and sauce, but can't be beat in baking. Freeze in slices.

If apples aren't your thing, Ohio farmers are also busy harvesting other crops this time of year including beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cilantro, collards, grapes, kale, leeks, some lettuce, onions, bell peppers, hot peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, winter squash, sweet corn and fall turnips.

Whatever your preference it's always a good idea to buy fresh and local whenever you can. And Ohio offers a lot of possibilities.