Pick-Your-Own Apples Start Sept. 25

   Cooler nights for the past few days have really accelerated 'Enterprise' apples' ripening.  So pick-your-own apple harvest starts tomorrow, Sept. 25. 

'Enterprise' apples have really started ripening in the past 2 to 3 days, as nights got cooler, so pick-your-own apple harvest starts Sept. 25.

   'Enterprise' apples will be most numerous for pick-your-own customers during the entire month of October, as they are every year.  'GoldRush' apples, our latest-ripening apple variety, do not start ripening until late Oct., and are most numerous for pick-your-own customers during the first half of Nov.
   I'll also start harvesting 'Enterprise' apples tomorrow, but they often sell as fast as I pick them at the very start of the season.  I also have some harvested 'Querina' apples for sale now, and some selections from my apple breeding program.  This morning I finished harvesting the two apples pictured in last week's blog, 'Crimson Crisp' and 'Sun Gala', and all #1 apples of both varieties have sold already.  I still have some #2 apples of both those varieties, and of other apples from my breeding program.

These 'Sunset' apples, a selection from my apple breeding program, ripen over the next 10 days or so.  I've picked some and all the #1's have sold the day I pick them, but we have some #2's for sale.

   Pick-your-own apples cost $1.00 per pound + tax for #1 apples (practically perfect) and $0.79 per pound + tax for #2 apples with cracks, bird pecks, or other surface damage.  Those who pick over 40 pounds total (#1's + #2's) get a discount, so #1 apples cost $0.93 per pound + tax and #2 apples cost  $0.74 per pound + tax.  Pick-your-own means that you harvest apples from the trees, and you buy whatever you harvest.  Those who pick some #1 and #2 apples to buy may also pick some #3 apples, with small rotten spots, for free if they want them.
   Small amounts of harvested #1 apples cost $1.30 per pound + tax.  A 20-lb. box of #1 apples costs $25.00 + tax ($1.25 per pound + tax), which saves $1.00 off the per-pound price. 2nds apples, with small cracks, cork spots, hail damage, or other surface damage, are great for baking, slicing for salads, or for making applesauce or apple butter.  Usually 95% to 99% of each fruit is still usable, but they're 70% or less the cost, at $0.93 per pound + tax for less than 20 pounds and $0.88 per pound + tax for 20 pounds.

Cool nights lately also hasten ripening of fall red raspberries. More will continue ripening until the first fall freeze in late Oct.

   We also have some fall red raspberries now, sold pick-your-own only.  More fall red raspberries ripen each day until the first fall freeze in late Oct., so you can often pick a few pints of raspberries if you ask about them.  Raspberries often get picked out on Saturdays, but there are many to pick on weekdays, especially if you phone 620-597-2450 a day ahead and let me know when you're coming to pick them.  Otherwise I may pick them for my own use, since raspberries need to be picked every day.  Pick-your-own raspberries cost $2.32 per pint + tax.
   For payment, we accept cash or checks (from any state); NO debit cards or credit cards.  Please bring your checkbook or enough cash to cover what you'll buy.  We also appreciate it if pick-your-own apple customers bring us some clean, non-ripped, used plastic grocery sacks in different colors.  We have customers pick #1 apples into white bags, #2 apples into yellow or tan bags, and #3 apples (if they pick any) into gray or blue bags.