Does size matter?

[Bayleaf]

[mention]niemeyjt[/mention] The second link looks interesting - although it may still be worth just going down the route of buying a crate from nearby, and splitting it between a few of us. Either that, or find a better way of storing the apples. The description in the first link would explain why this variety of apple keeps so well.

[Hotrodder]

If I'm working out the maths right, that bulk price is about €2 a kilo, exactly what I paid for some nice apples in Lidl yesterday. I don't know what variety but they are French sourced. I only bought three just in case they are crap. Apples (and other fruits) have been so bad around here all summer its been months since we have bought any.

[Doug]

It having been a very bad year[mention]Hotrodder[/mention] most fruit and veg aren't in good condition.
At Issigeac market each Sunday we pay just over a euro a kilo for vg apples and being regular customers she always throws in a couple after weighing them, same with spuds when we buy.

[Oldblueraincoat]

We get a wide variety of super fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and seafood from our local Leclerc, SuperU, Carrefour, and Auchan all very competitively priced - There is always a selection of local produce and l have never noticed a uniformity in sizes. Intermarche and our local Lidl are not so good. As for meat our award winning local Butcher is fantastic both on quality and price with the local beef from Bazas being exceptional.

Size in this context doesn't matter - I asked the Gerant of our small local Carrefour Contact if he considers size when buying from local producers - He responded with a shrug and "qualitie, toujours qualitie".

[Bayleaf]

If I'm working out the maths right, that bulk price is about €2 a kilo, exactly what I paid for some nice apples in Lidl yesterday. I don't know what variety but they are French sourced. I only bought three just in case they are crap. Apples (and other fruits) have been so bad around here all summer its been months since we have bought any.

Yes, it seems a fairly reasonable price. I know Gala can sometimes be cheaper, but I'm really fussy with apples - and gala go fluffy quickly. They have to be really crisp and juicy! Opal tick all the boxes!

Our own apple trees did nothing this year, due to a late frost.

[Sparkle]

For me quality not quantity I do remember that in the 1960s if you asked our greengrocer for 1lb apples (for youngsters here that was before decimalisation ) you always got 4 in a paper bag no matter what size or shape - I never questionned it Same with our corner shop - a quarter of corned beef - always 4 slices always cost 1s 6d.

[L Austin France]

If I'm working out the maths right, that bulk price is about €2 a kilo, exactly what I paid for some nice apples in Lidl yesterday. I don't know what variety but they are French sourced. I only bought three just in case they are crap. Apples (and other fruits) have been so bad around here all summer its been months since we have bought any.

Must be a great difference between our two areas of Brittany as we've had an absolute glut of apples on the umpteen varieties of trees we planted about 15 years ago.
The local Femmes Solidaires have been here in force collecting dozens of boxes of the things to distribute & we've got the huge heap of rotting windfalls collected each time I need to mow the grass.
I've got 6 tarte tatin lurking in the freezer & boxes stored away for winter treats for the nags.
Still loads left on the trees which we can't give away . Planting an orchard seemed a good idea at the time but is now proving a right PITA

[niemeyjt]

You need a cider press!

[exile]

If I'm working out the maths right, that bulk price is about €2 a kilo, exactly what I paid for some nice apples in Lidl yesterday. I don't know what variety but they are French sourced. I only bought three just in case they are crap. Apples (and other fruits) have been so bad around here all summer its been months since we have bought any.

Few apples have a storage life beyond 9 months and with an autumn harvest, European apples will have been beyond their storage lives in the summer.

Imported Southern Hemisphere apples can vary in quality especially with extended delivery times - extended still further this year due to the shipping/container problems.

[Hotrodder]

If I'm working out the maths right, that bulk price is about €2 a kilo, exactly what I paid for some nice apples in Lidl yesterday. I don't know what variety but they are French sourced. I only bought three just in case they are crap. Apples (and other fruits) have been so bad around here all summer its been months since we have bought any.

Yes, it seems a fairly reasonable price. I know Gala can sometimes be cheaper, but I'm really fussy with apples - and gala go fluffy quickly. They have to be really crisp and juicy! Opal tick all the boxes!

Our own apple trees did nothing this year, due to a late frost.

Dreadful year for us as well. Our Cox tree, although plenty of blossom, only produced 4 apples. One survivor tempts me to try it before the birds get it. We have another that is a French variety (Rein de Reinette?) is a cross pollinator for the Cox. It produced 7 but only two survive.
A green plum tree (greengage?) looked hopeful but the fruit fell off while still the size of grapes. Two young cherry trees produced a handful but the birds had them before they were anywhere near ripe and now both trees look like they are dead or on their way. Fruit and veg production here is pretty much a goner. I sold my tractor recently and might go into the taupe pate market. We've got dozens.