This annual event, truly a unique opportunity to explore the essence of the apple, has been among our most popular programs. Supermarkets today provide only a limited sample of the thousands of apple varieties once available to 19th-century fruit lovers. Monticello Fruit Gardener Kerry Gilmer and Gabriele Rausse, director of Gardens and Grounds, will provide numerous apple varieties, each introduced with a discussion of their history and culture. Participants will taste, savor, and, most importantly, rate each apple in this two-and-a-half-hour program.