Fall has arrived and for me that's the best time of the year!  The orchard will be closed this weekend and will re-open next weekend.  As I have said a few times already, the late frost we had this spring took out about 40% of our crop and that is why we will be closed.  More specifically, the frost took out most of our mid-season apples.  Sweet sixteen, McIntosh, Snow Sweet and about 2/3 of our Honey Crisp were the ones that had the most damage.  When you grow just about anything, you learn to go with the flow and that's what we are doing.  I will make do with whatever is dealt to us!
  On a brighter note, next weekend we will have Honey Crisp, Frost Bite and the start of the Haralson/ Haralred.  All are good in there own right.  In almost 20 years of growing apples I have learned to enjoy what we have not how much we have and this year is exactly what I mean!  In case your curious, the pictures are of Haralson, Frost Bite and Honey Crisp.   Next weekend the apples will be ready and we will also have some hot cider to go with it!

We are almost at the mid-way point of our season.  As I mentioned in previous posts, the orchard had severe frost damage in late May and because of that, our crop is not what we would like it to be.  That being said, we will be open on Saturdays only the next 2 weekends.  This weekend is not a total loss.  We will have Zestar, Goodland and Prairie Magic this Saturday.  The Prairie Magic will have a limited crop because of the frost but I think there is a trees worth so there will be a few bags.  We should also have some seconds and we will  have both cider and honey!  Also, in about 2 weeks, the Honey Crisp should be ready  If the Honey Crisp should be ready early, I will let you know.  Just keep checking back here. The positive in all this is that we do have apples!!!  Maybe not as many as we would like but enough.  I can make do with whatever we are given. See you on  Saturday.

We had a very nice opening weekend last weekend and it looks like that is going to continue.  This weekend we will have State Fair, Zestar and Chestnut Crab.  We will also have some seconds and cider and honey.   We ran out of cider pretty quickly last weekend, so if you want some, don't wait too long.  We only make so much each weekend.  The next few weekends after this one will be a little different because of the late frost we had earlier.  Our supply isn't what it usually is for this time of year.  We may only be open on Saturday next weekend.  Check back here and I'll update things before the weekend.  The Honey Crisp, which also took a hit from the frost, should be ready in about 2-3 weeks.  Again, I'll let you know.  Fall is on the way and we'll be ready!  See you then!