29 Comments
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just mud by Ron's avatar

Living a mere apple's throw from apple orchards, I appreciate this historical letter and will forward to the Apple Registrar. 🍎 Thanks Mark!

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Mark Starlin's avatar

It would be a shame to Fritter away this opportunity. I appreciate it.

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John K Adams's avatar

Mark,

I feel much the same about kumquat Kathy.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

She is a pill.

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Vince Roman's avatar

So beautiful

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Thank you, Vince. 🤓

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Elizabeth Marro's avatar

Now that I know where to write Johnny, I'd like to ask him what has happened to the supply of Granny Smith apples? I can't find them anywhere. And were these named for his grandmother?

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Mark Starlin's avatar

I have four of them in my refrigerator right now. It would have to be on his mother's side. Otherwise, they would be Granny Chapman apples.

Alright, from Wikipedia:

The Granny Smith, also known as a green apple or sour apple, is an apple cultivar that originated in Australia in 1868. It is named after Maria Ann Smith, who propagated the cultivar from a chance seedling.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granny_Smith

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Claudia Befu's avatar

I’ll take that apple pie anytime since I don’t grow apples 😉.

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Claudia Befu's avatar

Celery pie? 🤢

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Exactly!

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Me too! It beats Celery Pie. 🤣

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

If I NEVER meet Brussels Sprouts Bob, it will be too soon. And, please, Kale Kevin, have mercy on us! Go away. I beg you.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

🤣 Ah, what a strange time it was.

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Jack Herlocker's avatar

Just curious—has anyone tried, REALLY tried, to make celery cider? 🤔 Seems like there would be a market there!

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Mark Starlin's avatar

They did, and then they hit their forehead with their hand and said, "I could have had a V8!"

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Jack Herlocker's avatar

😂😂😂

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3musesmerge's avatar

Have you noticed Brussels spouts have recently gained high honor as restaurant fare?

Something sneaky is going on!

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Mark Starlin's avatar

It's The Man trying to keep us down and depressed by making people eat foul-tasting food!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Down With Sprouts. ugggh.

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Sunil Anand's avatar

Beautiful!

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Thank you, Sunil. There is nothing like a family letter to warm the heart.

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David Perlmutter's avatar

He didn't get up to Canada. It was John McIntosh that gave us our national apple.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

That makes perfect sense. I wonder if he grew them on Granny Smith's property?

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David Perlmutter's avatar

No, on his own. From ONE TREE!

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Mark Starlin's avatar

He was wise to avoid the Pink Lady. She was full of Envy.

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John Mendelssohn's avatar

What are vegetables — chopped liver? Not a syllable about Brandon Broccoli or Rudy Rudabaga!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

This surprises you? ha ha ha

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Mark Starlin's avatar

It is likely that John Chapman never learned of their existence. There was no Facebook back then.

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