Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Tons of Apples Ripe Now

   Literally tons of apples are ripe now.  I've already harvested several tons myself (out of the 7 tons or so of apples I'll harvest myself over the entire season), and have many for sale, along with pears and Asian pears.  Apples and pears are kept in top condition in our cooler, set at 34 F, ideal for apples and pears.  So you can come buy harvested apples and pears even when it's raining.
I harvest apples into two plastic bags per box, and pack many boxes with a bag each of two different varieties.  We have  many  harvested apple varieties for sale, including 'GoldRush' and Coop 27 (left box), 'Enterprise' and 'Sundance'(middle box), and 'Sunshine' and 'Sun Shower' from my apple breeding program (right box).
  We also offer pick-your-own apples for the next 4 weeks or so.  If you want to pick 'Enterprise' apples, come within the next 10 to 12 days, as 'Enterprise' harvest finishes up about Nov. 2 to 4.  We still have some 'Sundance' apples to pick for the next week or so, and 'GoldRush' pick-your-own harvest goes from Oct. 15 to about Nov. 15.
We still have many 'Enterprise' apples for pick-your-own customers to harvest for the next 10 to 12 days or so.
   I give taste samples of all our apple and pear varieties, to those interested in buying them.  Prices are listed in the previous post.
   We're expecting a good crop of pecans this year.  Pecan harvest will not start until early Nov., and then we have to clean and crack them for sale.  We hope to have cracked pecans for sale starting in mid-Nov., and should have them until mid-May, as the sidebar at left states.
   For payment, we accept cash or checks, but NO credit cards or debit cards, as the sidebar at left states.  Please bring your checkbook or enough cash to cover the amount of fruit you'll buy.
   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 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.  (Ring it loudly, once or twice.)  I hear that and come to the sales building.