Sure as God Made Little Gravenstein Apples, It’s Time for the Fair

How ’bout them apples? You’d think you’d find a few at this weekend’s Gravenstein Apple Fair, since the annual event is all about the juicy, crunchy orbs.

Certainly the beautiful fruit is front and center at the celebration being held Aug. 14 and 15 at Ragle Ranch Park in Sebastopol. You can bite into the best, presented in the raw by Dutton Ranch and Walker Apples. You can sip the stuff, from Farm Trails Apple Juice and Mae’s Organics.

But there’s more, from Sonoma’s talented troops of all things apple.

As you wander the agricultural and entertainment displays, you can sample apple cider syrup and apple butter from Ciderhouse Foods; plus jams, sauces and baked goods

by Kozlowski Farms. There will be dried and fresh fruits harvested by Neufeld Farms; and caramel apples crafted in all their sticky-sweet goodness by Redwood Christian Fellowship. For folks who prefer to slurp instead of chew, Mae’s will also be offering classic applesauce.

All ages enjoy the taste of Gravenstein Apples.

And you’ll find pie, oh yes, plenty of pie. The tasty rounds and slices (served hot and cold) will come courtesy of the Community Church of Sebastopol; and from Pacific Christian Academy, which will also turn out apple turnovers. If it’s apple cobbler that you crave, Gourmet Faire will fill your plate, topping it off with whipped cream. You can guess what will come out the kitchen of Grandma’s Apple Fritters, while Mirella’s is thinking outside the apple crate, with Italian-style apple cakes and pastries.

If it all sounds pretty ambitious for a community event, keep this in mind: this is the 100th anniversary of the Gravenstein Apple Fair, and it’s the 199th birthday of the first Gravenstein tree to be planted in Sonoma County. Gravenstein apples used to be the backbone of Sebastopol’s economy, and to this day, the fruit doesn’t fall too far from the trees that still blossom across the western Sonoma County landscape.

Most importantly, the Gravenstein apple is one of the most delicious varietals you’ll ever munch (in stunning sweet-tart flavor and aroma,

Gravenstein Apple pie eating contest at the Gravenstein Apple Fair.

with texture that’s as gorgeous raw as it is baked in a pie). It’s a favorite summer treat as North America’s earliest ripening apple (the season starts late July). And what’s not to love about its character-actor personality (the charmingly squat, irregularly shaped apple usually sports an eccentric greenish yellow body covered with broad red stripes)?

Yet sadly, for some of these same endearing properties, Gravensteins are now an endangered produce. They are difficult to harvest (blame it on short stems and different ripening times even on the same trees). The fruit is also extremely delicate and perishable, so they don’t take to shipping long distances, or sitting too long unloved in a grocery bin. Some truly foolish customers think the fruits are funny looking, and won’t even taste them.

There’s increasing hope, however. Such is the appeal of the fruit that it has been adopted by Ark of Taste, an organization dedicated to preserving heirloom food products.

So go to the fair. Eat the pie. And then sign up for the Slow Food Sebastopol Gravenstein Apple Presidium that’s been formed to promote and protect the farmers who grow these delicious jewels.

Now them’s some real important apples.

Details: The Gravenstein Apple Fair, Saturday August 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday August 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ragle Ranch Park, 500 Ragle Road, Sebastopol. Tickets are (Adults) $12, (Seniors) $10, (Youths 6-12) $5, and kids under 6 are free. Purchase in advance at Travel.SonomaCounty.Com or 1-888-255-1223.