Today Skylar collected two famous, old Maine apples: Cole’s Quince and Dudley Winter. Cole’s Quince (not a quince) originated in Maine’s most southern county (York) and Dudley Winter originated in Maine’s northernmost county, (Aroostook). The Cole’s are dropping and ready to pick. The Dudley’s are beginning to drop so she collected the drops and left the rest on the tree for later. Both are superior cooking apples.

Cole’s Quince is not to be confused with another apple called simply “Quince.” That apple predate’s the Maine apple which is why Mainers included the word “Cole’s” in theirs. Jude Schuenmeyer of Montezuma County, CO thinks that he and his partner, Addie, have found the original Quince apple. Although yet to be proven, it looks correct to me.