Recommended hawthorn species or varieties?

My experience with hawthorns is limited to the sort that grows up feral in old fields, which I believe must be common hawthorn. These have been fine for gathering leaves and to some extent haws, but probably do not produce the quality or quantity of fruit that a more 'selected' variety might yield.

I think I've read that there is a hawthorn that produces fruit large enough to eat out of hand like an apple or crabapple size. Does anyone know which one that is, or have recommendations for 'better hawthorns'?

Schraderiana!  Don't get me started!  My favourite little tree.  The fruit (cherry-sized) is rather bland and pippy, but makes fantastic jam.  The blossom (more creamy coloured than monogyna or laevigata) is also very popular with bees.

are you looking more for medicinal use or for eating?

i don't know how much it helps, but i located a single tree recently that has some of the biggest and tastiest haws i've had, better than most crabapples, but i don't know what species it is. i collected some scion and grafted it in a couple places at home a couple months ago. one option could be finding a similar situation where you are (or waiting a couple years until i get some of my own scion)...i don't know where you should start asking around in your area, though. this one was growing and likely intentionally planted at a chinese medicine clinic. i guess a clinic local to you that sources some of its herbs locally too might be a starting place.

on the other end of the spectrum, i've heard C. douglasii praised for medicinal use (the fruits may be a bit too intense for most people's 'pleasure eating').

These are great leads, guys. Thanks.

I will start looking for a Canadian source for schraderiana as the idea of making some really good hawthorn preserves is appealing.

As well, the idea of finding a cultivar on an area previously or presently inhabited by a Chinese community is definitely worth looking into. There are some historic Chinese gardens in Vancouver in particular. I never would have thought of that, to be honest. I wonder now whether looking for large haws in Chinese markets at the appropriate time of year and trying to start trees from seed might be an option too.

Mainly I was thinking of trying to plant some exceptional hawthorns for food production, either fresh or as a jam/jelly. Medicinal potential is good too although I feel trees with good medicinal properties are easier to come by.