Are you an Apple eater?

If so, then do yourself a favor, and try 1 Cameo apple next time you're at HEB. Just 1. Go ahead, buy your fancy Fujis, or Braeburns, or crap Galas, but add 1 Cameo to your cart. They won't be the big selection display, so look for them.

I used to hate red apples. My mom (if she remembers) can attest that i don't like red apples. In fact, I have only eaten green Granny Smith apples for a very long time, and when i was a kid, pretty much always went for the yellow ones while growing up in Mexico.

That is, until last fall I discovered the Cameo; an apple that's only been around since the late 90's. You won't ever see anything other than a Cameo in my hand. Is it the most amazing thing you've ever put in your mouth? No. But in terms of an apple out of the fridge, the Cameo will give any apple a run for it's money. And I tell you what, I bet the Cameo would give all the other apples odds while chatting with them in the fridge. Yes, when no one's watching, I bet it's a cocky apple! But it can be.

(this picture, from my HEB on Brodie and William Cannon)

And here's why... here are some outtakes from the Cameo Apple Marketing Association's website:

It started with a chance seedling…

The Cameo variety first caught the attention of apple grower Darrel Caudle, near Wenatchee, Wash. Darrel thought he had planted a Red Delicious tree, but as the tree grew, the apples were different from all the others in his orchard. One taste of the red-and-cream-striped fruit and Darrel knew he had found something special.

The tree is what is called a “chance seedling” meaning it grew unaided from a seed that carried a unique combination of genes from unknown parents. Over the next few years, Darrel patented the tree and registered a trademark for the revolutionary new variety.

Today, all Cameo trees are descended from Darrel’s first chance seedling which is still producing fruit in his hillside orchard. This family of trees is an industry celebrity, drawing apple aficionados, growers and nurserymen from all over the world who come to see the very first Cameo planting that started a new variety.

Cameo has since been planted in volume and is an All-American favorite. The variety is widely heralded as the most flavorful, crispy, and juicy apple anywhere. Cameo also has the distinction of being the first variety originating from the United States in years.

...

The apples are stored in a warehouse until shipped to grocery stores around the country. The warehouses are one more step in the quality cycle. Warehouses follow detailed recommendations on storage procedures and handling. American Cameo apples are the only variety that has a Quality Control Best Practices guide for each step in the growing process from blossom to your produce department.

Cameo growers go to great lengths to ensure the eating qualities of the apple stays at the absolute premium. For example, have you noticed the thin, tender skin that wraps each Cameo? It is a refreshing change to eat after tasting other varieties that have a tough, chewy, flavorless skin that can ruin the eating experience of the apple.

...look for the American Cameo sticker to ensure that you are eating or cooking with the best tasting apple.


Shoppers agree:
“I want to tell the creators, growers, pickers, distributors, etc.; that this is my new favorite apple.... I was a dedicated Gala and Fuji person and now I am a CAMEO person,” said one new Cameo fan.


Wanna cook with Cameo's? Need a recipe? Click here!

Anyway, I won't bore you any longer. Just give a Cameo an appearance on your diet, just one time. (nice pun, huh?!) And do report back with your thoughts, either in person or on here!