Allison Keene
Dietribes: McIntosh Apples
by Allison Keene - February 13, 2008 - 12:11 PM

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Apples are ubiquitous in our culture, especially in legend and lore – from Isaac Newton to William Tell, Johnny Appleseed to Snow White, Greek mythology to the forbidden fruit of the Bible. Commercially, according to the U.S. Apple Association, apples are grown in every state, and the largest U.S. apple crop on record (1998) yielded 277.3 million cartons. But this week we’re focusing specifically on the McIntosh apple, which has its own claims to apple-fame.

• The original McIntosh red apple came from Dundas County, Ontario (apples in general likely originated around Kazakhstan and China, and first brought to North America with settlers in the early 1600s). According to the book The Dictionary of Food and Drink, a plaque in Dundas County reads, “The original McIntosh red apple tree stood 20 rods North of this spot. It was one of a number of seedlings taken from the borderof the clearings and transplanted by John McIntosh in the Year 1796.” Learn more about John McIntosh from another plaque here.
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• When anyone says “McIntosh apple” to me, I immediately think of the big grey box with 3 programs and a total of 16 MB of RAM that I used in my formative years. Jef Raskin, an early Apple employee, is credited with naming the Macintosh computer after his favorite food, but changed the spelling due to copyright.

• This famous commercial for the Apple Macintosh aired during Super Bowl XVIII in 1984, and was directed by Ridley Scott.

raincoat.jpg• The McIntosh also lends its name to the rubber raincoat first developed in 1894 by Scottish inventor Charles Macintosh, who spread rubber onto cotton. The “mack,” still manufactured today, is mentioned in the Beatles song Penny Lane: “And the banker never wears a mack…In the pouring rain, very strange.”

• And here’s a lil’ cold war joke, from the Oxford English Dictionary entry for McIntosh apples:

MRS. L. B. JOHNSON White House Diary 15 Jan. (1970): ‘What are your best brands [of apple]?’ asked Gromyko. Without hesitation and with honesty General McNaughton replied, ‘Our best brands are Northern Spies and McIntosh Reds.’”

(For those who didn’t chuckle and need help with their Cold War who’s-who, go here for Gromyko and here for McNaughton.)

• According to folksy wisdom, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” I’ve followed that for 23 years with excellent results. Apples can be canned, juiced, fermented, put into pies, and so much more. How do you prefer to get your apple helpings? What’s your favorite apple recipe?

[Previous Dietribes: Strawberries, Macaroni & Cheese]

‘Dietribes’ appears every Wednesday. Food photos taken by Johanna Beyenbach. You might remember that name from our post about her colorful diet.

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Comments (14)

  1. Thanks for this! McIntosh are my favorite apples, even more so if they’re from Canadia.

    I especially like the Apple Cranberry pie recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.

    posted by Julia on 2-13-2008 at 12:45 pm

  2. My father-in-law’s apple pie. We should offer it as a prize for a future contest.

    posted by Jason on 2-13-2008 at 1:14 pm

  3. I used to think Granny Smith was my favorite variety, til I was introduced to the Fuji. I love love love it!

    posted by Tricia on 2-13-2008 at 1:17 pm

  4. My departed Auntie Anne would use only Macs in her apple pie and it was the best. The pie was never mushy and had a little tartness to it. It still makes my mouth water. Thanks for the memory.

    posted by gus on 2-13-2008 at 2:09 pm

  5. Read “The Botany of Desire” for much more on Johhny Appleseed. You didn’t think they were eating those apples, did you? Nah, they were making applejack.

    posted by fixedgear on 2-13-2008 at 2:16 pm

  6. Iowa State University created an apple that is the most amazing and delicious thing I have ever tasted. It’s called a Honey Crisp apple and it is HUGE! They started oozing with their delicious sweet insides after you break a bite off of them. I say break a bite because the apple bites apart in large crisp chunks. Truthfully they have played God and have really outdone themselves. Look them up, they are amazing. I hope that they are available or will soon be available in all of your areas.

    I’m hungry.

    posted by Gary on 2-13-2008 at 3:16 pm

  7. I’d just like to be picky and point out that the Bible never says what sort of fruit was eaten…

    posted by Sarah on 2-13-2008 at 4:40 pm

  8. Going to college in central New York certainly spoiled me as far as apples are concerned. I still make a pilgrimage up there most years in the autumn to pick up a few bushels. Jonagolds are probably my favorite but I can’t find them where I live now. Macs are always welcome though :)

    posted by Sara on 2-13-2008 at 9:23 pm

  9. McIntosh apples are my favorite kinds of apples, too! My favorite apple recipe is cinnamon apple crisp with ice cream. It’s like pie, only much better! :D

    posted by Bethany on 2-13-2008 at 11:44 pm

  10. McIntosh has nothing on the Gala ;)

    posted by astroroi on 2-14-2008 at 10:19 am

  11. I’m more into some of the less common antique varieties (like Calville Blanc, Cox’s Orange Pippin, &c.), but Honeycrisp is a pretty darned good modern variety that is being planted like CRAZY. Just for the record, though, Honeycrisp was deveoped in Minnesota, not Iowa — the University of Minnesota holds the plant patent in fact.

    In any event, within a couple of years, I’ll bet (and hope) that Honeycrisp displaces the disgusting ironically named ‘Red Delicious’ as the US’s “favorite” apple. The McIntosh is decent (and it’s the only apple my Dad eats), but it’s a tad mushy for me.

    posted by SId Morrison on 2-14-2008 at 12:12 pm

  12. I agree that Red Delicious apples are tasteless and of sinister texture. I’m a fan of Fuji, Gala and Pink Lady myself. always organic though, of course ;)

    posted by Intern Allison on 2-14-2008 at 12:18 pm

  13. I lived in Kazakhstan for a while and learned that the old Kazakhstan capital is Almaty. And “alma” in Kazakh is apple.

    posted by Charlene on 2-14-2008 at 3:10 pm

  14. How funny… Futurama did that same commercial to promote Planet Express.

    I was wondering where that came from. Thanks!

    posted by Miss Nae on 2-20-2008 at 4:18 pm

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