"First: if you’re here in northern Vermont and are after apples, you must go to the UVM Hort Farm. If you have even an iota of apple love or food geekiness, you will fall in love with the shed and its many, changing varieties of apples and how folks from all walks of life come through for their $1/lb. apples. And not just any apples, but many that you can’t get in stores, from the organic and IPM orchards in which UVM grows different varieties to test for various traits."

Thus begins the September 24 blog post "Crankycakes" of Vermont food writer Cheryl Herrick. She also offered up a Shelburne Farms Cookbook recipe, which she calls the "Best Freakin' Apple Pie Ever."

Herrick is one of a steady stream of shoppers who can't resist the contents of the big wooden crates. In addition to the unusual varieties, the old favorites are for sale as well and a changing selection of Hort. Farm-grown grapes.

Every Friday through the end of October from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. members of the UVM Apple Team sell their organic and low-spray apples in a shed behind the Blasberg Building just beyond the orchards. Some varieties sell out early in the day. The early season apples have passed already, but many more are ripening every week. This year, Healthy Lving on Dorset Street in South Burlington is also selling a selection of Hort. Farm apples. Proceeds from Apple Sales go to supporting research and education programs at the farm.

For more information, contact Terry Bradshaw at Information: tbradsha@uvm.edu or 658-9166.

Directions to the farm from campus: The UVM Hort. Farm is located behind GE Healthcare (former IDX) and the Heritage car dealerships off Shelburne Road in South Burlington. From Campus Follow Spear Street South to Swift Street, take a right at the light and follow Swift St to the end. Travel 1.5 miles south from the intersection of Swift Street and Shelburne Road (U.S. Route 7). Turn left at the traffic light onto IDX Drive. Travel .3 miles on IDX Drive and turn left onto the Horticultural Research Center access road. Varieties and approximate dates

  • McIntosh (9/03 through end of season)
  • NY 74828 (9/03 through end of season)
  • Cortland (9/17 or 10/24 through end of season)
  • Liberty (9/17 through end of season)
  • Macoun (10/3 through end of season)
  • Golden Supreme (10/3 through end of season)
  • Empire (10/3 through end of season)
  • Mutsu (second week of October)
  • Northern Spy (second week of October, maybe after that)