Quince

Quince on Tree

is a stone fruit which ripens fully in the Northeast around Halloween.  These pictured  still have a while, a little bit too green to pluck, they should be more golden and have no fuzz on their skin.  When picked, quince have a fresh and sweet smell, and  placed in a basket or plate on the table they last for several days.

A friend gave this tree to my husband the first spring we were together and it  it grew quickly. This same  friend gave me a cooking lesson with quince; it is a lot of work to make quince jelly and sauce because the fruit is so hard and dense.  Almost the consistency of  a nut.  Quince jelly is particularly tasty, however, and if you have the time and energy, it is worth it.

For a basic quince jelly recipe, go to:  http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/can_07/quince_jelly.html

More information about Quince, read:  http://www.hort.cornell.edu/extension/commercial/fruit/mfruit/quince.html