'GoldRush' Apples & Fall Red Raspberries Still Ripening

   Our 'Enterprise' apple crop was reduced this year due to the April 16 freeze, and the pick-your-own 'Enterprise' apple season has now ended.  I'm still harvesting the last few 'Enterprise' apples for the next few days.  We'll probably sell out of harvested #1 'Enterprise' apples in the next few days, and may sell out of harvested #2 'Enterprise' apples in a few weeks.

More 'GoldRush' apples ripen each day, and we'll harvest them over the next 3 to 4 weeks. 'GoldRush' apples keep well in the fridge for 10 to 11 months, getting sweeter after at least a month of cold storage.

   We should have close to a full crop of 'GoldRush' apples.  This is our latest-ripening apple variety, so it has just started ripening.  Customers may pick their own 'GoldRush' apples now until about Nov. 12, and we'll keep harvesting them until temperatures of 24 F or less are predicted.  Frosts down to 25 F do not hurt apples on the trees.  We'll have harvested #1 'GoldRush' apples for sale now until about April 2019, and harvested #2 'GoldRush' apples for sale now until about June 2019.  Apple prices are detailed in the previous blog post, dated Oct. 18.

Cool fall weather and plenty of rain have produced many large fall red raspberries this year.

   More fall red raspberries, sold pick-your-own only, ripen each day until the first fall freeze of 30 F or less.  Most years this occurs in late Oct., but we haven't had a killing frost yet this fall, so the fall red raspberries are numerous, large and beautiful.  Pick-your-own raspberries cost $2.32 per pint + tax.  There's still no frost in the forecast for the next week, but that could change at any time, so come as soon as possible if you want to pick red raspberries this fall.
   We'll have harvested, cracked pecans for sale starting in mid-Nov.  Our pecan crop was also reduced this year by the April 16 freeze, so we'll sell out of pecans much earlier this year, maybe in late Dec. to late Jan.
   We're still open our fall hours, shown in the sidebar at left, until Nov. 30.  You do not need an appointment in fall.  Our phone rings in our house, so if you call during the day, I won't get your message until I come in from working outside.
   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.  Thanks.

'Enterprise' Apples Still Ripening, 'GoldRush' Soon

   We still have a good number of 'Enterprise' apples ripening over the next 2 weeks for pick-your-own customers.  I also harvest 'Enterprise' apples each day, and have some #1 apples and many #2 apples for sale.  We also have harvested apples from my apple breeding program for sale.

Elsa Hurley had fun picking her own 'Enterprise' apples this afternoon. Apples around the outside of the trees have already ripened and been picked, but a good number of apples in the interior of each tree's canopy are still ripening. These apples ripen later since they're shaded, and can be picked for the next 2 weeks or so.

   'GoldRush' apples will start ripening next week, so we'll let pick-your-own customers start harvesting 'GoldRush' next Wed. Oct. 24 or Thurs. Oct. 25.  Customers may still harvest 'GoldRush' until about Nov. 12, and we'll keep harvesting them until temperatures of 24 F or less are predicted.  Frosts down to 25 F do not hurt apples on the trees.  We'll have harvested 'GoldRush' apples for sale from about Oct. 25 until late June 2019.

Pittsburg, KS 1st graders enjoyed picking 'Enterprise' apples during their field trip to our orchard on Wed. morning, Oct. 17.

   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.
   More fall red raspberries, sold pick-your-own only, ripen each day until the first fall freeze of 32 F or less in late Oct.  Pick-your-own raspberries cost $2.32 per pint + tax.
   We'll have harvested, cracked pecans for sale starting in mid-Nov.
   We're still open our fall hours, shown in the sidebar at left, until Nov. 30.  You do not need an appointment in fall.  Our phone rings in our house, so if you call during the day, I won't get your message until I come in from working outside.
   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.  Thanks.