Off the tree next door.

Or grow your own. Quinces are not a big commercial crop.

I have had the jelly once. Can't remember where. I looked into getting my own tree. Not even easy to find that. Still debating on that one . . . You might try asking around at your nearest farm market, or calling cooperative extension. Any type of fruit farms getting rarer and rarer . . . sigh. There are trees left around you probably, or at least there were . . . You might even try calling the Morris Arboretum. They might know where some trees are . . . they have networks . . . or your local CSA.

Another resource, might be worth a peruse . . .

http://www.pickyourown.org/PAeast.htm

Or call these guys

https://guide.farmfreshri.org/food/farm.php?farm=737

If you can’t get hold of quinces, the fruit of the Flowering Quince, Chaemomeles, make a good and very similar jelly.

I used to see flowering quinces like Floral mentions all over suburban Philly when I lived there, but rarely noticed them in fruit. Don't know if the fruiting was bred out of them or if birds or other suburban wildlife got to them quickly or if they just needed special pruning to set fruit. I didn't even realize that kind fruited until I did some research on it when deciding if I had room for one in my current landscape. I had a huge Chaemomeles right outside my office near Willow Grove. It was gorgeous but for whatever reason, didn't fruit. Not sure if they are male and female, don't think so . . .

Funny I just ran into some the other day and I can’t remember where. If I had to guess it was either the smaller upscale local grocer or a slightly larger local health-oriented supermarket chain, also local. I almost bought some to try my hand at Quittenspeck. Now you’ve got me thinking.

Anyway neither helps you any, but those are the types of stores I’d look in.

FOAS, you give me hope. I don't have Whole Foods near me, but my daughter does. So far no quinces there, but if they have them anywhere, it's possible I'll find them.

Lpink, it's cydonia, nor chaenomeles, that I'm looking for. They're very big.

Quinces are typically a cooking fruit, and the majority of American can't be bothered to prepare time consuming things from basic natural sources anymore, so quinces have fallen out of popularity.

In the old days, before they had powdered pectin, quinces were used to make jams. It only takes a little bit of quince to act as a thickener. They were also used in apple pies. Maybe 1 part quince to 3 parts apple.

They could best be described as being similar to apple and pear, but with a unique aromatic flavor that apple and pear do not have.

You might be able to find quinces in a high end supermarket, but typically only seen during the Fall season, soon after the fruits have been harvested.

Although the fruits can last a long time in storage if properly handled.

Depending on where you live, you might also check out health food stores. Especially medium to larger sized health food stores which are independently owned, not corporate chains.

Quinces are more likely to be found in season at Russian or eastern European grocers. Also try craigslist; here in the PNW there are several listings there every year.

Cloudy-Christine, I’m aware you’re seeking Cydonia. I just suggested Chaenomeles as an alternative if you can’t find the genuine article.

Pinkmountain, male and female are not on separate plants but the species and older cultivars do seem to produce more fruit ime. Nothing eats the rock hard fruit on mine.

floral_uk, I see now that tweet was yours, not Lpink's.

Socalnolympia, they do have a lot of pectin, more than apples. It annoys me that all brands of quince jelly I see on the internet, even the British ones, have apples as an ingredient. I made quince jelly years ago when a nearby orchard had one quince tree, but the tree died and the orchard is out of business.

Logician, we don't have Russians but we do have Greeks here. It's a long shot but I will try to find out if they make any quince recipes.

Quinces have great side benefit: they perfume your kitchen with the most wonderful small. Just sitting in a bowl.

When we bought this place 44 years ago, there were many quince trees in the woods. I thought they were the toughest fruit ever to cut and peel. Maybe I did not know how or when to pick. However over time, I don't know why they have died out. Sure would be nice to have at least one survive.

Sue

That's really interesting, Sue. I wouldn't have thought the trees would bear fruit in the woods. I guess they had just enough sun.

Years ago we saw the most beautiful garden with four quince trees at the Cloisters Museum in New York.