Still Many Harvested Apples, Some Asparagus

   We still have many harvested 'Enterprise' and 'Gold Rush' apples for sale, and some 'Sundance' apples.  On rainy days like today, I'm still sorting apples.  Ten days ago, we moved the rest of the apple bins from our big cooler to the sales building cooler, so we could turn the big cooler off.  We'll likely sell out of apples by late May to mid-June, so call us in the next few weeks if you want some.

   Harvested apples cost $1.30 per pound + sales tax.  A 20-pound box costs $25.00 + sales tax, so you save $1.00 by buying 20 pounds.  I pack apples into 2 plastic bags lining the boxes, and have some mixed boxes with 2 different kinds of apples, one bag of each variety.

I packed this 20-lb. box of 'Enterprise' (red apples at left) and 'Gold Rush' (yellow apples at right) today.

   We also have some harvested 2nds apples, which cost $0.93 per pound + sales tax.  These have hail damage, cracks, or other surface damage, and are great for cutting into slices, in salads, or for cooking, baking or preserving.  If you buy 40 pounds (2 boxes) or more of 2nds apples for one household, the price goes down to just $0.88 per pound + sales tax, so $35.20 + sales tax for 40 pounds of 2nds apples.

   Asparagus is growing well again, after recovering from last week's freeze, and I'm now harvesting it twice per day.  I break each spear where it snaps off easily, so almost the entire spear is tender and usable.  As shown in the sidebar at left under Crop Sales Seasons, we'll have some asparagus for sale for the next 5 weeks or so, until late May.  Asparagus is limited so you do need to phone 620-597-2450 a day or two ahead and order it.  Asparagus is still just $2.78 per pound + tax, harvested.

I harvested these 2 bags of asparagus today. It keeps well for 3 weeks in the fridge when kept wrapped in the bag in the crisper.

   Through May 31, we're open by appointment, which means to phone 620-597-2450 a day ahead and leave a message on our answering machine with your name, day and time you'll come, and what you want to buy.  I'll return your call after dark to confirm your appointment.  If you want to come that same day, call between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., when I'm often still in the house where the phone rings, before I go out to the orchard to prune fruit trees.

   For payment, we accept cash and checks (from any state), but NO credit cards or debit cards.  We have no phone line to the sales building, and no card reader.  Please bring your checkbook or enough cash to cover the amount you want to buy.  Thanks.

   Fruit trees start developing their fruit buds a year or more before the fruit crop is harvested.  During the severe cold in mid-February, the temperature dropped to -16 F here.  This killed all fruit buds on the peach trees, since peach buds are only winter-hardy to about -10 F.  So the peach trees never bloomed this spring, and we will have no peach crop in 2021.

   Apple and pear fruit buds are more cold-hardy, down to -20 to -25 F, and bloomed beautifully.  We still expect good apple and pear crops so far, as well as good blackberry and pecan crops.

   Our first pick-your-own crop, raspberries, should start about June 1, when our Summer Open Hours start.  Pick-your-own thornless blackberries should start about June 15.

   The Kansas Highway Department is replacing 3 bridges on Highway 166 east of Chetopa, KS, and work is expected to take 18 months.  They've installed 3 stoplights and have one-lane traffic open, so it now takes about 15 minutes instead of 5 minutes to drive the 4.5 miles from Chetopa to our farm if you go on Highway 166.

   Those coming here from from the northwest can save time by heading east on Highway 160 from Oswego, KS for 5.0 miles to Hallowell.  Just after you pass Angelo's Deli on your left, turn right (south) onto 90th St., and continue south for 10.0 miles on this paved road.  At the stop sign, turn right onto Highway 166, go just 0.5 miles west, then turn left onto 95th St. at the sign for Brenda's Berries.

   Those coming here from from the east, northeast or southeast can follow your usual route here.  Those coming here from from the southwest should come up through Miami, OK rather than through Welch, OK and Chetopa, KS.