U-Pick Apples

U-Picking will be available beginning the last week in July.
Exact dates could vary up to a week. This schedule is based on last year's crop.

July 25 - Apple picking begins. Our first apple of the season is a large red dessert apple called WILLIAM'S PRIDE. It is very tasty and makes a red applesauce that is out of this world if you cook them with the peeling. They are also good for frying, pies, salads and fresh eating. These apples are NOT long-term keepers and are available for about a 3- to 4-week period.

Early August - Early September - GALAS are ready to U-Pick. HoneyCrisp are ready at this time, too, but are not available to U-Pick. The Honeycrisp is an extra large apple that is sweet like honey and so juicy that it just drips when you bite into it. We never have enough of these apples. Unfortunately, they only last about a couple of weeks. NOT long-term keepers.

The Gala apple is a long-term keeper and has surpassed the red delicious that once held the number one spot for so many years. Galas are crisp, sweet, and juicy, and are an excellent all-purpose apple. Available for 4-6 weeks.

Late August to Mid-September - JONAMAC and EMPIRE apples are both slightly tart. They are similar to the Jonathan and can be used for fresh eating or for baking.

The ULTRA EARLI - our early Fuji type apple, sweet, juicy, slightly spicy, and crisp.

SUPERIOR RED DELICIOUS - a large, sweet and juicy apple. Excellent for fresh eating, salads, and even makes very good pies. I like to use these apples for dehydrated apple slices as they are so big. The Superior Red Delicious is NOT like the Washington Red Delicious that is shipped to the Midwest.

ULTRA GOLD - apples that are similar to the Golden Delicious, but keep much better. They are crisp, juicy and sweet.

The ENTERPRISE - this apple is a 6-month keeper (in the refrigerator, not the basement or the garage). It is crisp and tart. The tartness later sweetens in storage.

ROME - an excellent baking and sauce apple. Recommended for pies and apple butter. It is an excellent eating apple when very fresh. The Rome will mellow in storage.

Mid September to early October - You can tell an old-fashioned YORK by its lopsided appearance. A slightly tart, crisp apple that is excellent for pies, sauces and just fresh eating. The flesh of the York is yellow. Many "Old Timers" say this apple isn't ready to eat until after Thanksgiving. They like to pick them early and let them mellow. This apple keeps fairly well.

Late September to early October - The FUJI apple is an excellent winter keeper. It is crisp, spicy, and juicy.

GRANNY SMITH - is an excellent keeping apple and is the last apple of season. It is very firm, tart, and crisp. It makes wonderful pies. The Granny Smith will mellow in long-term storage. It is a must for those that like a good, tart apple. They can be stored 8-9 months at 32° Fahrenheit with little change in quality.

We also have a few JONALICIOUS, RED FREE, BLUSHING, MACINTOSH, and JONATHAN. These five varieties are in limited quantities.

For simple long-term storage, we suggest that the apples be refrigerated in clear plastic bags. This way, one can easily see and remove apples that develop decay spots. Stored at 38° to 40°Fahrenheit, Galas, Granny Smith and Fujis should keep through February. Enterprise can definitely be refrigerated up to six months.