So we have a fruit guy that comes up here from BC every week. He brings phenomenal produce the sizes you never see at the grocery store. He travels up here with his daughter who makes wonderful peach jam and his oh so friendly dog who demands all the pettings.
His produce that he brings is next level. Australian pears that taste sweet without the grainy texture. Fresh white nectarines that taste like candy! Strawberries that sell out in a day, so you best be quick if you want them!
Well two years ago he brings up this new apple, the cosmic crisp. It's a massive apple, bigger than my fist. Perfectly round with a red and yellow hue...it's amazing! A firm texture that gives you that satisfying crisp bite. So good!
Literally only need to send half of it with my son's lunch as the whole thing would be way too much.
Whenever he comes to town, I make sure to stop by and say hello! I'm hoping he makes the trek this year. Yes, it costs a little bit more, but making that connection with someone who genuinely wants nothing more than to bring fresh, delicious fruits to us is great and seems just a bit more human than the big box stores.
Oh I LOVE THIS! People who love to share fruit with each other are such special folks! And living up north and having someone take the time and energy to bring beautiful produce, that is so lovely!
I do remember the occasional produce truck coming north when we were young. I think my Dad would buy a case of Florida oranges. And we always stopped at fruit stands for cherries, and peaches and nectarines when driving through BC. I think the lack of that sort of good fruit (though our homegrown berries were AMAZING) was what started my obsession with trying as many fruit as possible.
Now I want to go find a cosmic crisp. I can’t wait until apple season in Nova Scotia. Besides the crab apples, I’ve never picked an apple straight off the tree, and I can’t wait.
Thank you for sharing your stories! They are always so warm and gentle and I love the snapshots of you and your family life.
I adore apples but have to be careful due to digestive issues because I have no colon. I can't eat a whole apple on its own anymore but I can enjoy slices in a salad. I love the tartness and crunch of the granny Smith and the sweet gala.
Ah yes! They are such fibrous fruit! I love that in moderation you can still enjoy their complexity. My home is generally fairly apple free because no one else likes them. But I still buy one or two as a treat occasionally.
Oh this is so good to know! Blueberries are my favourite, and there is a new berry I’ve been introduced to called the Haskap that I buy frozen and add to our smoothie-potions because they are delicious and full of delightful vitamins and other nutrients!
Oh! I would love to read it! I find it so wondrous that it that little shop is now about 25 years old and a fixture of the market! It is such a magical place.
up until recently it was on a U of O site called Friday Circle because it was published through Seymour Mayne's creative writing program, but i guess the site is defunct now.
Oh that’s so sad! I have had so much writing disappear due to it being published to now defunct sites! I love Seymour Mayne! His stolen couch poem is one of my favourite poems ever!
Oddly Ryan (in the comment above) also talked about cosmic crisps! I haven’t had one and am definitely on the look out! I have tried an Opal (opals used to be my very favourite gem).
So we have a fruit guy that comes up here from BC every week. He brings phenomenal produce the sizes you never see at the grocery store. He travels up here with his daughter who makes wonderful peach jam and his oh so friendly dog who demands all the pettings.
His produce that he brings is next level. Australian pears that taste sweet without the grainy texture. Fresh white nectarines that taste like candy! Strawberries that sell out in a day, so you best be quick if you want them!
Well two years ago he brings up this new apple, the cosmic crisp. It's a massive apple, bigger than my fist. Perfectly round with a red and yellow hue...it's amazing! A firm texture that gives you that satisfying crisp bite. So good!
Literally only need to send half of it with my son's lunch as the whole thing would be way too much.
Whenever he comes to town, I make sure to stop by and say hello! I'm hoping he makes the trek this year. Yes, it costs a little bit more, but making that connection with someone who genuinely wants nothing more than to bring fresh, delicious fruits to us is great and seems just a bit more human than the big box stores.
Oh I LOVE THIS! People who love to share fruit with each other are such special folks! And living up north and having someone take the time and energy to bring beautiful produce, that is so lovely!
I do remember the occasional produce truck coming north when we were young. I think my Dad would buy a case of Florida oranges. And we always stopped at fruit stands for cherries, and peaches and nectarines when driving through BC. I think the lack of that sort of good fruit (though our homegrown berries were AMAZING) was what started my obsession with trying as many fruit as possible.
Now I want to go find a cosmic crisp. I can’t wait until apple season in Nova Scotia. Besides the crab apples, I’ve never picked an apple straight off the tree, and I can’t wait.
Thank you for sharing your stories! They are always so warm and gentle and I love the snapshots of you and your family life.
1. Opal
2. Jazz
These apples are decedent fruits from the heavens.
I bet you Eve would agree ☺️
I adore apples but have to be careful due to digestive issues because I have no colon. I can't eat a whole apple on its own anymore but I can enjoy slices in a salad. I love the tartness and crunch of the granny Smith and the sweet gala.
Ah yes! They are such fibrous fruit! I love that in moderation you can still enjoy their complexity. My home is generally fairly apple free because no one else likes them. But I still buy one or two as a treat occasionally.
we eat mostly berries for fruit because they are easy to digest and a lovely sweetener that doesn't raise my blood sugar levels.
Oh this is so good to know! Blueberries are my favourite, and there is a new berry I’ve been introduced to called the Haskap that I buy frozen and add to our smoothie-potions because they are delicious and full of delightful vitamins and other nutrients!
I didn't realize you worked at the Byward Fruit Market. I love it there. It inspired my first chapbook Blood Orange in 2003!
Oh! I would love to read it! I find it so wondrous that it that little shop is now about 25 years old and a fixture of the market! It is such a magical place.
up until recently it was on a U of O site called Friday Circle because it was published through Seymour Mayne's creative writing program, but i guess the site is defunct now.
Oh that’s so sad! I have had so much writing disappear due to it being published to now defunct sites! I love Seymour Mayne! His stolen couch poem is one of my favourite poems ever!
I too have many feelings on apples. My current favorite is Cosmic Crisp. Have you had this one yet? Another favorite is Opal apples. <3
Oddly Ryan (in the comment above) also talked about cosmic crisps! I haven’t had one and am definitely on the look out! I have tried an Opal (opals used to be my very favourite gem).