Let Peter Piper pick the peck of perfect peppers, because you get to pick your favorite apple at the Cornell Orchard. The orchards is offering free taste-tests now through Dec. 23, and all that's wanted in return is your opinion.

Each year thousands of apple seedlings are bred. Then, after years of testing, only a select few make it to the public-scrutiny stage. The apples in this test are among the chosen.

"These are new apple varieties from the Cornell fruit breeding program and beyond, and this is a good opportunity for the public to try them out," said Rick Reisinger, manager of the Cornell Orchard. "Will this latest class of commercial apple 'wanna-bes' make it to the next level? You be the judge."

The apple varieties included in this year's tasting are: Goldrush, Priscilla, Jonafree, Fortune and eight numbered New York varieties.

All tastings are conducted in the Cornell Orchard salesroom and are free. Reisinger said that you can even take a few home to try in your favorite cooked recipe. "All we need is your feedback," he said.

The Cornell Orchard salesroom is located across from the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, Route 366, Ithaca. The salesroom is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (607) 255-4542.