'Kanza' Pecans, 'Enterprise' & 'GoldRush' Apples for Sale

   "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting." Psalm 126:1
   "Come taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him!" Psalm 34:8
   We hope everyone had a wonderful day of giving thanks and praise to God.  Those wanting to buy apples or pecans can taste some of the bounty that the Lord provides, since we give taste samples.  We're open our usual fall hours this Friday, Saturday and Sunday (see sidebar at left).
   We now have cracked 'Kanza' pecans for sale.  'Kanza' pecans are known for cracking out almost entirely in intact kernels, and our new high-efficiency pecan cracking machine cracks this variety so well that 2/3 of the shells are removed by the blower.  My husband Bill tested the 'Kanza' pecans that he'd bagged, and found they contained 78% pecan kernels and only 22% shells.  So this variety is very fast and easy for customers to pick out.

These cracked 'Kanza' pecans, collected in a bin after running through the pecan cracking machine and blower, contain 78% pecan kernels and only 22% shells, so they're very fast and easy to pick out.

   The price for pecans is still $15.05 per bag + tax, but since the 'Kanza' pecan bags contain at least  75% pecan kernels, Bill weighs these bags to 4 pounds.  You still get the equivalent of at least 6 pounds of in-shell pecans in each bag, and when you pick out the pecans, you get at least 3 pounds of nutmeats.  We also still have 8 bags of 'Osage'  pecans for sale.
   Pecan harvest is still going on.  It requires 5 different machines to harvest pecans and prepare them for sale.  First, Bill uses a tractor-pulled stick rake to remove fallen branches from the pecan orchard floor.  Next he uses a tractor-mounted trunk shaker to shake pecans from the trees.  Then he drives a self-propelled pecan harvesting machine, which scoops up the pecans from the ground with rubber fingers, over the orchard.

A few days ago Bill harvested the young 'Kanza' pecan trees he'd planted around our house, after he'd harvested the pecans in our main 20-acre pecan planting.

   Then Bill runs the harvested pecans through a cleaning machine, and finally he runs cleaned pecans through the pecan cracking machine and blower.  Then he scoops cracked pecans into bags by hand and weighs them.  Each day he shakes pecan trees or harvests pecans, at our place or at the Kansas State University Pecan Experiment Field where he is director, and each night he cracks and bags our pecans for sale here.
   We still have harvested 'Enterprise' and 'GoldRush' apples, plus Coop 27 and Coop 34, for sale now.  For apple prices, scroll down two blog posts.  Those wanting more than 20 pounds of #1 apples should call 620-597-2450 a day or two ahead to order them, since the #1 apples have been selling as fast as I can sort them lately.
    For payment, we accept cash or checks, but NO credit cards or debit cards.  Please bring your checkbook or enough cash to cover the amount of apples and pecans you'll buy.

The 'Brandywine' red maples I planted 5 years ago to shade the sales building still have beautiful fall color.

   We're still open our fall hours until Nov. 30: Mon. to Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. only.
   From Dec. 1 to May 31, as the sidebar at left shows, we're open by appointment.  That means to phone 620-597-2450 a day in advance, and leave a message on the answering machine saying your name and the day and approximate time you're coming.  The phone rings in the house, and I check for messages when I come in from working in the orchards or in the sales building.  If you wait to call until on your way here, I probably won't get your message before you come.