At 08:38 PM 4/12/02, you wrote: >And that must be the secret of the Washington State red delicious. >Different >apple trees, different climate, different fruit. ...and as with wine grapes, different soil. One of the factors in certain apples no longer being grown must be how well they maintain their "quality" during shipping and storage. It's sad. I learned a little about the apple growing business when I read "Blues Lesson" by Robert(?) Hellenga - for those voracious readers out there in gardening land. I'll do a taste comparison with the mid-eastern market's pistachios, as you suggest. I enjoy taste tests. Jeanne