Empire apples

One pound of Empire apples. A cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious, the Empire is a crisp, sweet-tart apple with deep red skin and bright white flesh that resists browning. It holds its shape well in lunchboxes and salads, and it's a reliable all-purpose apple for snacking, sauce, and baking. About the farm: Nana Mae’s Organics is a small, family-owned business, which grows and produces more than 25 Heirloom varieties on 400 acres of historic apple orchards in Sonoma County. Pictured on the company’s label, San Francisco native Nana Mae is the inspiration of fourth-generation Northern Californian and owner Paul Kolling, who cherishes childhood memories of cooking with his grandmother.