screen shot

This is a seedling I discovered behind the Starks community center in Somerset County, ME in the fall of 2015 during a fruit exploring trip with Gary Athenian. The original seedling tree is growing next to a baseball diamond backstop. Evidently instead of eating the apples the kids chuck them at the backstop where they stick in the screen and make wonderful patterns (the screen shot).

The fruit is medium-sized, roundish-ovate and slightly ribbed. The skin is greasy, shiny and blushed red and orange. I knew I’d found nirvana when I took my first bite. The dense, spongy and remarkably juicy fruit is guaranteed to liven up even the most mundane cider or sauce. It has moderate acidity, some astringency and a touch of bitterness, and would probably be best categorized as a bitter-sharp.

We recommend Screen Shot for trial by the courageous cider-maker. It should be carefully blended. Our first attempt was undrinkable, but we haven’t given up. Next time we’ll ferment it alone and then judiciously blend it later.

The fruit is ready for harvest about September 20 in central Maine. Our tree has an upright spreading growth habit and distinctive branching. It appears to bear most years although is it not annual. Early-mid season blooming. We obtained our scionwood from the original tree. Currently growing at Super Chilly Farm.