Apples & Pecans Great for Holiday Baking

   We still have harvested 'Enterprise' and 'GoldRush' apples for sale.  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.

These harvested #1 'Enterprise' and 'GoldRush' apples sell as fast as I can sort them, so call 620-597-2450 a day or two ahead to order them if you want more than 20 pounds of #1 apples.

   Small amounts of harvested apples cost $1.20 per pound + tax.  A 20-lb. box of apples costs $23.15 + tax, which saves $1.00 off the per-pound price.  I pack harvested apples into two plastic bags per box, so you can get a mixed box of one bag of each of two different varieties of apples, and still get the 20-lb. discount.
   We also have many harvested 2nds apples, great for holiday baking or for making apple butter.  Usually 90 to 95% of the fruit is still usable, but they're 69% the cost at $0.83 per pound + tax.  A 20-lb. box of harvested 2nds apples costs just  $15.74 + tax ($0.79 per pound + tax), which saves $8.00 off a 20-lb. box of #1 apples.  If you get 40 lbs. of 2nds apples, the price goes down to just $0.74 per pound + tax ($14.82 + tax per 20-lb. box).
   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.  The price for pecans is still $15.05 per bag + tax.  Each bag has the equivalent of 6 pounds of in-shell pecans, and when you pick them out, you get at least 3 pounds of nutmeats.
   Many recipes featuring  apples and pecans are posted as Notes on our Facebook page, Brendas Berries.  Many are great for holiday gatherings or gifts.
   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.

As our sign on the sales building says, we're open by appointment from Dec. 1 to May 31.

   From Dec. 1 to May 31, we're open by appointment, as the sidebar at left says.  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.

'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.

Many Apples & Pecans for Sale

  Our pick-your-own apple season finished up this past Sat. Nov. 12.  Several families came to pick their own apples, and 3 of our workers and I finished harvesting all remaining 'Enterprise' apples into large bins for winter storage.  We also harvested many 'GoldRush' apples into large storage bins, and this week I will harvest the rest of the 'GoldRush' apples for winter storage.

Our large cooler now holds 102 bins of 'Enterprise' and 'GoldRush' apples.  All winter I sort apples from these bins into 20-pound trays for sale.

   We now have 102 bins filled, each holding about 30 pounds of apples, so we have about 3000 pounds of apples in our large cooler.  All winter I sort apples from these large storage bins into trays holding 20 pounds each.  'Enterprise' apples keep well in our cooler or a fridge for 6 to 7 months, and 'GoldRush' apples keep well in our cooler or a fridge for 8 to 10 months. 
   We have many harvested 'Enterprise' and 'GoldRush' apples, Coop 27, Coop 34, and a few apple selections from my breeding program for sale now.  I give taste samples of all our apple varieties.  For apple prices, see the previous blog post.
   We'll still have harvested 'Enterprise' apples for sale until about Feb. 2017.  This year's 'Enterprise' crop was less than the 2015 crop, and so many people picked their own 'Enterprise' this year, so we'll sell out of this variety earlier than last year.  We should have harvested 'GoldRush' apples for sale until late May or early June.
    We're expecting a good crop of pecans this year.  We just started harvesting pecans, and just started cleaning and cracking the pecans for sale.  We now have cracked 'Osage' pecans for sale.

'Osage' pecans, our earliest-ripening pecan variety, are now cracked and ready for sale.

   Cracked 'Kanza' pecans should start in late Nov. once we get a hard freeze of 26 F or lower.  We should have cracked pecans for sale until late June.
    The price for pecans is the same as last year: $15.05 per 5-pound bag + tax.  My husband Bill cracks the pecans, blows off the loose shells, and then weighs the bags to 5 pounds.  So you get the equivalent of about 6 pounds of in-shell pecans in each bag, and when you pick out the pecans, you get at least 3 pounds of nutmeats.
    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.
   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.  I'm still usually harvesting 'GoldRush' apples in the orchard, so I put a sign on the sales building to ring the bell.  Ring it loudly, once or twice, and I'll hear it.

Last Week for 'Enterprise' Apple Harvest, 'GoldRush' Started

   Some 'Enterprise' apples are still available for pick-your-own customers for the next week.  'GoldRush' apples are available for pick-your-own now until mid-Nov.
   Yesterday 4 of our workers and I started harvesting 'Enterprise' apples into large bins for winter storage.  We filled 44 of these bins that hold about 30 pounds each, so we have about 1300 pounds of apples in our large cooler so far.  We'll harvest more 'Enterprise' apples into the large bins for the next week or so, and start harvesting 'GoldRush' apples into these large bins a couple weeks from now.

Yesterday our workers Skyler England (left), Tim Epler (far right), Tre Maxton (behind Tim), Luke Laws (not pictured) and I started harvesting 'Enterprise' apples into large bins for winter storage in our cooler.

   I'm still harvesting 'GoldRush' apples and some 'Enterprise' apples directly into trays holding 20 pounds each.  We now have many harvested 'Enterprise' apples and some harvested 'GoldRush' apples for sale, kept in our smaller cooler in the sales building.
   'Enterprise' apples keep well in our cooler or your fridge for 6 to 8 months, and 'GoldRush' apples keep well in our cooler or a fridge for 9 to 10 months.  All winter I sort apples from the large storage bins into trays holding 20 pounds each.  So we will have top-quality harvested 'Enterprise' and 'GoldRush' apples for sale until late May or June.

More 'GoldRush' apples are ripening now, so are available for pick-your-own and harvested.

   Small amounts of harvested apples cost $1.20 per pound + tax.  A 20-lb. box of apples costs $23.15 + tax, which saves $1.00 off the per-pound price.  I harvest apples into two plastic bags per box, so you can get a mixed box of one bag of each of two different varieties of apples, and still get the 20-lb. discount.
   We also have many harvested 2nds apples, great for baking or for making apple butter.  Usually 90 to 95% of the fruit is still usable, but they're 69% the cost at $0.83 per pound + tax.  A 20-lb. box of harvested 2nds apples costs just  $15.74 + tax ($0.79 per pound + tax), which saves $8.00 off a 20-lb. box of #1 apples.  If you get 40 lbs. of 2nds apples, the price goes down to just $0.74 per pound + tax ($14.82 + tax per 20-lb. box).

The Karnes and French families of Oronogo, MO picked 'GoldRush' apples (left) and 'Enterprise' apples (right rear) a couple days ago.  Come this week if you want to pick 'Enterprise' apples.

   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.
   We're expecting a very good crop of pecans this year.  We haven't been able to start harvesting pecans yet, since we haven't yet had a freeze to advance opening of the shucks.  Once pecan harvest starts, the pecans have to be dried, then cleaned and cracked for sale.  We hope to have cracked pecans for sale starting about Nov. 14, and should have them until late June.
   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 fruit you'll buy.
   From Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, as the sidebar at left says, we're open our fall hours: Mon. to Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. only.  I'm usually harvesting apples in the orchard, so I put a sign on the sales building to ring the bell.  Ring it loudly, once or twice, and I'll hear it.

Many Pick-Your-Own Apples Now

   Our pick-your-own apple season is going strong.  Many 'Enterprise' apples are ripe now, and more will ripen over the next 2 weeks.  'GoldRush' apples have just started to ripen, and more will be available for pick-your-own until mid-Nov.

We'll still have 'Enterprise' apples for pick-your-own customers for the next 2 weeks, and harvested 'Enterprise' apples for sale for the next 6 months or so.

   We use plastic grocery sacks in different colors for pick-your-own apples, and appreciate it if customers can bring some clean, non-ripped, used bags.  I have plenty of white bags, but am very low on tan, yellow, gray and blue bags, so need those.  Reusing is better for the environment than recycling.  Please also bring back any peach boxes or berry containers you got from previous visits to Brenda's Berries & Orchards, so we can reuse them.  Thanks.

The Harrigan family had fun picking 'Enterprise' apples last week.  Come in the next 12 days if you want to pick 'Enterprise' apples.

   We also have harvested 'Enterprise' apples, Coop 27, Coop 34, and apple selections from my breeding program for sale now.  All our apple varieties are immune to apple scab disease, so we don't have to spray for that disease, so we can put on 1/3 fewer fungicide sprays than if we grew scab-susceptible apple varieties such as 'Jonathan' or 'Golden Delicious'.  I give taste samples of all our apple varieties.
   For prices, scroll down two blog posts.  For payment, we accept cash or checks (from any state), but NO credit cards or debit cards.  We do not have a card reader or a phone line to the sales building.  Please bring your checkbook or enough cash to cover the amount of apples you'll buy.  Thanks.
   From Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, as the sidebar at left says, we're open our fall hours: Mon. to Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. only.  I'm usually harvesting apples in the orchard, so I put a sign on the sales building to ring the bell.  Ring it loudly, once or twice, and I'll hear it.

Many Apples Ripe Now

   Our pick-your-own apple season started last week.  Some 'Enterprise' apples are ripe now, and more will ripen over the next 5 weeks.  'GoldRush' apples will ripen from mid-Oct. to mid-Nov., so they'll be available for pick-your-own then.

More 'Enterprise' apples ripen each day, and harvest will continue over the next 5 weeks.

   We also have harvested 'Enterprise' apples, Coop 27, Coop 34, and apple selections from my breeding program for sale now.  All our apple varieties are immune to apple scab disease, so we don't have to spray for that disease, so we can put on 1/3 fewer fungicide sprays than if we grew scab-susceptible apple varieties such as 'Jonathan' or 'Golden Delicious'.  I give taste samples of all our apple varieties.

Coop 27 (left box) and Coop 34 (right box) came from the cooperative apple breeding program that produced 'Enterprise' and 'GoldRush'.  We have many harvested Coop 27 apples and some harvested Coop 34 apples for sale now.

   We use plastic grocery sacks in different colors for pick-your-own apples, and appreciate it if customers can bring some clean, non-ripped, used bags.  Reusing is better for the environment than recycling.  Please also bring back any peach boxes or berry containers you got from previous visits to Brenda's Berries & Orchards, so we can reuse them.  Thanks.
   Prices are detailed in the previous blog post.  For payment, we accept cash or checks (from any state), but NO credit cards or debit cards.
   From Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, as the sidebar at left says, we're open our fall hours: Mon. to Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. only.  I'm usually harvesting apples in the orchard, so I put a sign on the sales building to ring the bell.  Ring it loudly, once or twice, and I'll hear it.
   Mondays to Thursdays are good uncrowded times to pick apples, for those who are able to come then.  Many people come to pick apples on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday afternoons, when the weather is nice as it has been lately.

Pick-Your-Own Apples Have Started

'Enterprise' apples have started ripening, and more will ripen over the next 6 weeks.

   Our pick-your-own apple season has just started.  Some 'Enterprise' apples are ripe now, and more will ripen over the next 6 weeks.  'GoldRush' apples will ripen from mid-Oct. to mid-Nov.  We also have harvested 'Enterprise' apples, 'Sundance' apples, and apple selections from my breeding program for sale now.
   All our apple varieties are immune to apple scab disease, so we don't have to spray for that disease, so we can put on 1/3 fewer fungicide sprays than if we grew scab-susceptible apple varieties such as 'Jonathan' or 'Golden Delicious'.  I give taste samples of all our apple varieties.
   Small amounts of harvested apples cost $1.20 per pound + tax.  A 20-lb. box of apples costs $23.15 + tax, which saves $1.00 off the per-pound price.  I harvest apples into two plastic bags per box, so you can get a mixed box of one bag of each of two different varieties of apples, and still get the 20-lb. discount.
   We also have some harvested 2nds apples, great for baking or for making apple butter.  Usually about 90% of the fruit is still usable, but they're 60% the cost at $0.83 per pound + tax.  A 20-lb. box of harvested 2nds apples costs just  $15.74 + tax ($0.79 per pound + tax), which saves $8.00 off a 20-lb. box of #1 apples.  If you get 40 lbs. of 2nds apples, the price goes down to just $0.74 per pound + tax ($14.82 + tax per 20-lb. box).

The Coate and Skaggs families from Joplin had fun picking their own 'Enterprise' apples this morning.

    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.
   From Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, as the sidebar at left says, we're open our fall hours: Mon. to Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. only.  I'm usually harvesting apples in the orchard, so I put a sign on the sales building to ring the bell.  Ring it loudly, once or twice, and I'll hear it.

Harvesting Apples from Breeding Program

   I'm still harvesting some early apple varieties and a few 'Enterprise' apples.  Most 'Enterprise' apples will ripen between Sept. 26 and Nov. 5.  Our pick-your-own apple season starts this Sat. Sept. 24, but only a few 'Enterprise' apples will be ripe yet, so the best pick-your-own time is the entire month of Oct.
   All our apple varieties are immune to apple scab disease, so we don't have to spray for that disease, so we can put on 1/3 fewer fungicide sprays than if we grew scab-susceptible apple varieties such as 'Jonathan'.  'Enterprise' and most of our other apple varieties originated from a cooperative apple breeding program between Univ. of Illinois, Purdue Univ. and Rutgers Univ. that began in 1945.  We also have one tree each of two other selections from this cooperative apple breeding program, Coop 27 and Coop 34, which are not yet named.

Coop 34 apples are just starting to ripen.  I harvested a few today and they all sold, but more will ripen over the next couple weeks.

   I also have my own apple breeding program, which uses apple varieties immune to apple scab disease as parents.  I've selected several dozen seedlings for further testing, and have named 15 apple selections so far.  Today I harvested selection SD34 1301, a cross of 'Sundance' and Coop 34 that I've tested for 4 years now, and decided to name it 'Sunburst'.  I harvest all the apple trees from my breeding program, as there's just one tree of each cross, and I take notes on fruit characteristics of each cross.

Today I started harvesting this selection from a cross of 'Sundance' and Coop 34, and named it 'Sunburst'.

   Asian pears are almost all harvested now, and almost all have sold.  Our European pear crop was greatly hurt by the 6 frosts during bloom, so we had only a very few European pears for sale this year, only about 5% of a full crop, and almost all have sold.
   I give taste samples of all our apple varieties.  Scroll down two blog posts for apple prices.
   From Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, as the sidebar at left says, we're open our fall hours: Mon. to Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. only.  I'm usually harvesting apples in the orchard, so I put a sign on the sales building to ring the bell.  Ring it loudly, once or twice, and I'll hear it.
   Many early mornings I apply herbicides around fruit plants, and I can't see or hear cars come in the driveway while I'm spraying.  So if you want to come before 10 a.m., please phone 620-597-2450 the day before you come and leave a message saying the day and time you'll come, so I can look for you. Thanks.

Still Harvesting Early Apples & Asian Pears

   I'm still harvesting some early apple varieties and Asian pears.  I harvest all the early apple varieties, because fruit must be harvested promptly or they will drop when ripe.  'Jonafree' apples are mostly harvested now, and most have sold.
   I started harvesting 'Querina' apples a couple days ago and have some for sale, but I just planted the 'Querina' trees 5 years ago, so they aren't bearing too many apples yet.  Like all our apple varieties, 'Querina' is immune to apple scab disease, so we don't have to spray for that disease, so we can put on 1/3 fewer fungicide sprays than if we grew scab-susceptible apple varieties such as 'Jonathan'.  'Querina' tastes similar to 'Jonathan' but better, and is firmer.

I just planted 'Querina' trees (right) 5 years ago, so these young trees aren't bearing many apples yet.  'Enterprise' apples (left) will ripen mainly between Sept. 22 and Nov. 5.

   Today I started harvesting a very few 'Enterprise' apples.  Most 'Enterprise' apples will ripen between Sept. 22 and Nov. 5.  Our pick-your-own apple season won't start until very late Sept., and the best pick-your-own time is the entire month of Oct.
   I harvest all the pears and Asian pears, since they're tricky to pick and we need ladders to reach them.  (We do not ever allow customers to use ladders to pick fruit.)  Our European pear crop was greatly hurt by the 6 frosts during bloom, so we'll have very few European pears for sale this year, only about 5% of a full crop.

I'm still harvesting some 'Shinko' Asian pears.  The fruit remaining on the trees are all up high, so I took this photo from high on the ladder before picking some of these.

   The Asian pear crop survived the frosts pretty well, and we still have some for sale.  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 apple and pear varieties.  See the previous blog post for apple and pear prices.
   We have harvested apples and Asian pears for sale in late mornings and afternoons.  From Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, as the sidebar at left says, we're open our fall hours: Mon. to Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. only.
   Many early mornings I apply herbicides around fruit plants, and I can't see or hear cars come in the driveway while I'm spraying.  Some weekday early mornings I'll deliver apples to schools, or may have a dentist appointment.  So if you want to come before 10 a.m., please phone 620-597-2450 the day before you come and leave a message saying the day and time you'll come, so I can look for you. Thanks.