Dear Sun Spots: Thanks for all your help. I have another request.

Could you please find out where I can buy Jonathan or Winesap appples? These are the best varitities to make apple butter with, which I make. I await your answer. Hope you can please find this for me. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: Try Pleasant Pond Orchard, 430 Brunswick Road, (on Route 201) Richmond, ME 04357, via e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (207) 737-4443. They have not yet begun to pick them but should do so the end of September first week in October when the apples are ready to eat. They are open daily, except Tuesdays and hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note they pick the apples, not you.

In addition to responses from readers, you should note that the Jonathan variety appears to be a hard-to-find variety. Sun Spots understands it is a very round, deep yellow apple with bright red stripes and creamy white, semisweet flesh. Although not very hard it is good for just about anything – cooking or eating out of hand. In days gone by, Jonathans were one of the most popular varieties, but they’re hard to find now except in the Midwest.

In the meantime, perhaps you and other column readers may enjoy apples from the following orchards:

Harnden’s Harvest Hutch, off Rte 2 , East Wilton – Open daily 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., (207) 645-2433 – They do offer pre-picked and pick your own but have no Jonathans.

Greenwood Orchards, Route 4, Turner – Open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., (207) 225-3764. They have Cortlands, Macs, Paula Reds but are not advertising any Jonathans.

Ricker Hill, Route 117, Buckfield Road, Turner – Open weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., (207) 225-5552. They do not sell Johnathans

Apple Ridge Farms, Perkins Ridge, Auburn – Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., (207) 777-1696 – They do have specialty apples that usually come in the first week of October. They have had Jonathans in the past and may have this season. Contact them for more details.

Shackley Hill Orchards, Off Route 108, Livermore – Now open. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday-Mondays. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesday. They carry Macs, Cortlands, Red Delicious.

Wallingfords Fruit House, Perkins Ridge, Auburn – Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends.

Benoits Orchard, Ferry and Cotton Roads, Lewiston – Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., (207) 783-0875. They carry Milton apples, which are very similar to the Jonathan.

Stukas Farms, 144 Ferry Road, Lewiston – Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p., (207) 786-2639.

Willow Pond Orchard, Route 9, Sabattus – Open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., (207) 375-6662. Horsedrawn wagon rides on the weekends.

And, perhaps you and your family will enjoy the following apple recipe located online at Ricker Hill Orchards, www.http://www.rickerhill.com/lessons.asp or via mail at P.O. Box 202, Turner, ME 04282, e-mail: [email protected] or phone at (207) 225-3455.

CranApple pie ingredients: 9-inch pastry crust, two-crust pie, ¾ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup sugar, ¾ cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 4 cups fresh cranberries, 4 cups tart apples, cut and pared, 2 tablespoons butter. Method: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Combine sugars, flour and cinnamon in a large bowl. Mix in the fruit. Place into a pastry-lined pan. Dot with butter and cover. Cut slits into the top to release pressure and bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown.

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