Yer West Coast apple selection is just different from yer East Coast. I
remember lovely apples in NY at the farmers' markets that I don't see
here.

The best apples I have had in California were some green/yellow ones,
don't know the name, bought at the Oakland farmer's market one year. I
took a bite right there by the stand and asked the farmer - are you in
the mountains? Yes, he's in the Sierra foothills. Do you get snow? Sure
do.

After too many years of eating frost-free California apples, I could
taste what winter does to an apple tree. It's totally worth it.

So one more question besides what variety of apple would be - where is
it grown, and do they have cold winters? Does it freeze?

I, too like Fujis but they do vary in size, texture and flavor. Also
non-organic apples often have so much wax and other coatings on them
that the flavor is ruined.

Leila