Apples
How Do I Pick Apples?
As you enter, inquire with our sales associates about the designated picking area(s). When you find a ripe apple, grasp the stem between your index finger and thumb. Give it a slight twist and gentle tug. Please do not yank the fruit off the tree, as it causes others to fall off and can easily break the branch. For more information on identifying ripe apples, check out the apple section.
How Do I Store Apples?
Apples are best kept refrigerated whenever possible. They can be kept for several months if refrigerated at a temperature as close to 32 degrees F as possible.
What Causes the Yellow Translucent Color in the Flesh at the Center of The Apple? Did They Freeze?
No, they did not freeze. This phenomenon is called “water core” or “sugar core.” It is caused by extremely high sugar content that occurs more often in the early varieties like Red Delicious, Empire, and Jonathan. They are perfectly good to eat but will not store as well as the later varieties available in October.
Mid-Late August to September
Gala
Mildly Sweet and Juicy, Perfect for Slicing & SaladsGinger Gold
Mild & Sweet, Best for Eating Fresh & SaladsEarly-September
Honeycrisp
Crisp, white flesh. Sweet, juicy, eating.McIntosh
Blushed-red to deep red; tart and aromatic. Good for eating & making sauce.Mid-September to Mid-October
Cameo
Crisp white flesh – tangy flavor – keeps well.Cortland
Crisp white flesh – best for salads, eating.Crispin
Yellow to green; very large in size. Sweet & juicy, but mild. Good for eating, making sauce, & salads.Empire
Deep red w/ firm, yellowish flesh. Sweet with a flavor all its own. Good for fresh eating, making sauce, & salads.Golden Delicious
Yellow to greenish yellow. Sweet and juicy. Good for baking, eating, & salads.Idared
Red cheeked w/ yellow spots. Firm & juicy; tart. Good for eating, baking, & making sauce.Jonathan
Bright to dark red. Flavorful, slightly tart. Good for eating, baking, & salads.McCoun
Dark red to blushed-red. Very crisp; juicy, slightly tart. Good for eating & desserts.Red Delicious
Bright red and juicy. Sweet, but mild. Good for eating & salads.Spartan
Dessert Apple – white flesh – sweet and crisp.Mid-October to Closing
Arkansas Black
Deep red. Very hard, crispy flesh w/ mild flavor. Good for eating & salads; stores well.Braeburn
Red w/ some yellow coloring. Firm w/ mild flavor. Good for eating & baking; stores well.Fuji
Pinkish red w/ yellow flesh. Crisp, sweet, & juicy. Mild flavor. Good for eating, making sauce, & salads.Granny Smith
Firm with strong tartness resembling that of a lemon. Bright white flesh that resists browning when slicedRed Rome
Red. Crispy, mild flavor. Good for baking & eating.Stayman Winesap
Red with thin yellowish striping/banding. Crisp, juicy, winey. All purpose; stores well.Yellow Newtown Pippen
Yellow w/ very hard flesh. Quite sweet. Good for eating & baking; stores well.Peaches
How Do I Pick A Peach?
As you enter, inquire with our sales associates about the designated picking area. When you find a ripe peach or nectarine, grasp the stem between your index finger and thumb. Give it a slight twist and gentle tug. Please do not yank the fruit off the tree, as it causes others to fall off and can easily break the branch. For more information on identifying ripe peaches and nectarines, check out the peach section.
How Do I Store a Peach?
Peaches taste best when they are not refrigerated, but if they ripen early and you want to keep them longer, you will have to either refrigerate them or freeze them. Peaches freeze particularly well.
How Do I Freeze a Peach?
Peel the fruit; you may find that blanching the peaches first makes skin removal easier. Slice the peaches and remove the pits. You may also want to sprinkle them with sugar according to your taste. Place the slices in a totally full (no air) plastic freezer container and freeze right away. We recommend adding Fruit Fresh (available in the canning supplies section of most supermarkets) to inhibit browning of the fruit.