Thursday, September 24, 2015

Pick-Your-Own Apple Season Has Started

   Our main apple harvest season, and pick-your-own apple season, has started with 'Enterprise', though only a few of those are ripe yet.  'Enterprise' harvest continues until about Nov. 2, and 'GoldRush' harvest goes from about Oct. 15 to about Nov. 12 or 15.
Customers have just started picking these 'Enterprise' apple trees.  More 'Enterprise' apples will ripen over the next 5 to 6 weeks.
   'Enterprise', 'GoldRush' and most of our other apple varieties originated from a cooperative apple breeding program begun in 1945, between Purdue University, University of Illinois, and Rutgers University, that selected for apple varieties immune to apple scab disease.  So our apple orchard does not get this disease, which can defoliate trees of scab-susceptible apple varieties if they are not heavily sprayed with fungicides.  So we can apply about 1/3 fewer fungicide sprays per season than we would need to apply if we grew apple varieties susceptible to apple scab disease, such as 'Jonathan' or 'Golden Delicious'.  That is why we do not grow scab-susceptible apple varieties.
Coop 27 is another selection from the cooperative apple breeding program between Purdue University, University of Illinois, and Rutgers University.  I'm harvesting our one Coop 27 apple tree, and have these for sale.
   I'm also harvesting several other apple varieties, and have these for sale.  Some of these are from the cooperative apple breeding program, such as Coop 27 (not yet named) and 'Scarlet O'Hara'.  Most are from my own breeding program, which uses apple varieties immune to apple scab disease as parents.  Immunity to apple scab disease is carried by a dominant gene, so all seedlings of scab-immune parents will also be scab-immune.  We still have to cut down most seedlings in the apple breeding program because they are susceptible to fire blight, apple blotch or other diseases, or because the fruit is too small or has other defects.  I've selected several dozen seedlings for further testing, and have named 14 apple selections so far.
   We still have many harvested 'Luscious' and 'Harrowsweet' European pears and 'Shinko' Asian pears for sale.  I give taste samples of all our apple and pear varieties, to those interested in buying them.
   Small amounts of harvested pears and apples cost $1.20 per pound + tax.  A 20-lb. box of pears or apples costs $23.15 + tax, which saves $1.00 off the per-pound price.  I harvest pears and apples into two plastic bags per box, so you can get a mixed box of European and Asian pears, or one bag of pears and one bag of apples, and still get the 20-lb. discount.
   We also usually have some harvested 2nds pears and a few 2nds apples, great for baking or for making pear butter or apple butter.  Usually about 90% of the fruit is still usable, but they're 60% the cost at $0.83 per pound + tax.
    Smaller amounts of pick-your-own apples are $0.93 per pound + tax for #1's and $0.69 per pound + tax for #2's.  For 40 lbs. or more total of #1 and #2 pick-your-own apples, the price goes down to $0.88 per pound + tax for #1's and $0.65 per pound + tax for #2's.  Weekdays are good uncrowded times to pick apples, for those who are able to come then.

Each fall some 'Reveille' red raspberries fruit on the primocanes.  Phone a day or two ahead if you want to pick raspberries.
    Small amounts of everbearing red raspberries and yellow raspberries are ripening now until mid-late Oct.  If you want to pick raspberries, phone 620-597-2450 a day or two ahead, and let me know when you're coming and I'll save them for you.  Otherwise I pick the raspberries for my own use and for Bill to make jam for sale, as raspberries need to be picked at least every other day.
   From Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 we're open our fall hours: Mon. to Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., & Sundays 1 to 6 p.m.  I'm very busy harvesting pears and apples all around the farm, and often can't see the driveway from the orchards.  While harvesting, I put up a sign on the sales building, saying to ring the bell.  I hear that and come to the sales building. 

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Many European Pears & Asian Pears Ripe

   We still have many harvested pears for sale. Yesterday I delivered 80 lbs. of 'Luscious' European pears to Chetopa School and Bartlett School for the kids' afternoon snacks.  The schools and many parents of young children like these 'Luscious' pears since they're small to medium-sized, and the kids will eat the whole pear.
   We also still have some 'Blake's Pride' European pears, which get huge, for sale.  If you want 'Blake's Pride' pears, come soon, since I'm almost done harvesting them.  Tomorrow I'll start harvesting 'Harrowsweet', our last European pear variety, and we'll keep harvesting them for the next 3 weeks or so.
Tomorrow I'll start harvesting 'Harrowsweet', our latest-ripening European pear variety, and we'll keep harvesting them for the next 3 weeks or so.
   European pears keep in the fridge for 4 to 6 weeks.  Take a few European pears out each day, and let them sit on the counter for 2 to 3 days until they turn yellow and as soft as you want them to eat or bake with.  A great pear tart recipe is posted on our Facebook page, Brendas Berries, as a Note.
   I'm also harvesting many 'Shinko' Asian pears. Asian pears stay firm and crunchy, are very sweet and juicy, and keep well in the fridge for 3 to 4 months.  I give taste samples of all our pear varieties.
'Shinko' Asian pears stay firm and crunchy, and are very sweet and juicy.
   I'm also harvesting several early apple varieties from my apple breeding program, but we only have a few trees of apple varieties that fruit this early.  Our main apple harvest season, and pick-your-own apple season, runs from about Sept. 24 to about Nov. 12 or 15.
'Sun Flare' is a selection from my apple breeding program that I just named 2 days ago.  It's very sweet and crisp.  I picked about 50 lbs. of 'Sun Flare', and about 30 lbs. have already sold.
   Small amounts of harvested pears and apples cost $1.20 per pound + tax.  A 20-lb. box of pears or apples costs $23.15 + tax, which saves $1.00 off the per-pound price.  I harvest pears and apples into two plastic bags per box, so you can get a mixed box of European and Asian pears, or one bag of pears and one bag of apples (when available), and still get the 20-lb. discount.
   We also usually have some 2nds pears and a few 2nds apples, great for baking or for making pear butter or apple butter.  Usually about 90% of the fruit is still usable, but they're 60% the cost at $0.83 per pound + tax.
   From Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 we're open our fall hours: Mon. to Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., & Sundays 1 to 6 p.m.  I'm very busy harvesting pears and early apples all around the farm, and often can't see the driveway from the orchards.  While harvesting, I put up a sign on the sales building, saying to ring the bell.  I hear that and come to the sales building.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Bumper Crop of Pears Ripe

   We have a bumper crop of pears this year.  Our workers and I harvested many 'Luscious' European pears over Labor Day weekend, and I've harvested many 'Blake's Pride' pears and some 'Shinko' Asian pears, and we have these for sale.  I give taste samples.
'Luscious' European pears (left box) soften and are great for fresh eating or baking.  'Shinko' Asian pears (right box) stay firm and crunchy, are very sweet and juicy for fresh eating.
    European pears keep in the fridge for 6 to 8 weeks.  Take a few European pears out each day, and let them sit on the counter for 2 to 3 days until they turn yellow and as soft as you want them to eat or bake with.  A great pear tart recipe is posted on our Facebook page, Brendas Berries, as a Note.  Asian pears stay firm and crunchy, are very sweet and juicy, and keep well in the fridge for 3 to 4 months.
Our workers Tim Epler (left) and Luke Laws (right) and I harvested many 'Luscious' European pears over Labor Day weekend.
    I'm also harvesting several early apple varieties, but we only have a few trees of apple varieties that fruit this early.  Our main apple harvest season, and pick-your-own apple season, runs from about Sept. 24 to about Nov. 12 or 15.
    Small amounts of harvested pears and apples cost $1.20 per pound + tax.  A 20-lb. box of pears or apples costs $23.15 + tax, which saves $1.00 off the per-pound price.  I harvest pears and apples into two plastic bags per box, so you can get a mixed box of one bag of pears and one bag of apples and still get the 20-lb. discount.
    Peach harvest is now over, and we are sold out of peaches for the year.   
    Small amounts of everbearing red raspberries and yellow raspberries are ripening now until early Oct.  If you want to pick raspberries, phone 620-597-2450 a day or two ahead, and let me know when you're coming and I'll save them for you.  Otherwise I pick the raspberries for my own use and for Bill to make jam for sale, as raspberries need to be picked at least every other day.
  From Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 we're open our fall hours: Mon. to Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., & Sundays 1 to 6 p.m.  As stated in the last blog post, I'm very busy harvesting pears and early apples all around the farm, and often can't see the driveway from the orchards.  While harvesting, I put up a sign on the sales building, saying to ring the bell.  I hear that and come to the sales building.

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Many Pears & Some Early Apples Ripe

   Many customers visited our farm from Sept. 1 to 4, many wanting peaches, so we sold out of peaches a few days earlier than expected.  Peach harvest is now over, and we are sold out of peaches for the year.
   'Blake's Pride' and 'Luscious' European pears are still ripening plentifully.  This morning two of our workers, Tim Epler and Luke Laws, and I harvested about 350 pounds of 'Luscious' European pears, so we now have plenty for sale.  Thankfully Tim and Luke will help pick pears again on Monday, as Labor Day is a school holiday.
I've harvested many 'Blake's Pride' pears, and today our workers and I harvested many 'Luscious' European pears.
   I've also harvested many 'Blake's Pride' pears and some 'Shinko' Asian pears and have these for sale.  I'm harvesting several early apple varieties, but most of these sell within hours of picking, since we only have a few trees of apple varieties that fruit this early.  Our main apple harvest season, and pick-your-own apple season, runs from about Sept. 24 to about Nov. 12 or 15.
'Jonasun', a selection from my apple breeding program that I just named this year, is one of the few early apple varieties that I'm picking.
   Crabapples are starting to ripen on our two crabapple trees.  Those who want to make crabapple jelly should phone 620-597-2450 and let us know when you want to come pick crabapples or if you want to buy harvested crabapples.  Prices are the same per pound as harvested or pick-your-own apples (see our price sheet or the previous blog post), but you get a lot more crabapples per pound since they're so much smaller.
   From Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 we're open our fall hours: Mon. to Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., & Sundays 1 to 6 p.m.  As stated in the last blog post, I'm very busy harvesting pears and early apples all around the farm, and often can't see the driveway from the orchards.  While harvesting, I put up a sign on the sales building, saying to ring the bell.  I hear that and come to the sales building.