Bounty of apples hang ripe for harvest

Business is booming at local orchards, By Nancy Kriz Warwick - If you’re dreaming of fragrant apple pies, jugs of amber cider, plates of flaky apple strudel now is your time to feast. Farm and orchard owners agree that Mother Nature has been more than kind to them this year, as this season’s apple harvest is one of the best in recent memory. Apple picking has evolved from a chore for farmers into being a fun weekend activity for out-of-towners. and area residents. Summer’s ideal blend of sun and rain nearly guarantees enough fruit for anyone interested in searching for apples, whether it’s via a roadside farm stand or a ‘you pick your own’ orchard. For orchards like Applewood Orchard and Winery in Warwick, business has been booming. “Apple Dave” Hull, owner of the 50-acre orchard and vineyard, sees apple picking as THE weekend activity for families. “It’s really no longer the apple business, it’s the entertainment business,” said Hull, whose trees have been producing fruit since 1955. The first trees planted in 1950 can still be seen from behind the orchard’s kitchen. “There’s more than enough apples for everyone.” Like many area orchards, Hull offers school trips and entertainment to make apple picking an event. It’s a place to take the kids and amuse them,” said Hull. “And that may be important to some people. They like the idea of the kids getting involved in the country. They’re always seeking the country experience. Apple picking anywhere makes for a great family day. You can bring a picnic and relax.” Other area orchards, like Roe’s Orchards in Chester, offer apples, cider, doughnuts and vegetables along its roadside market stand. “We pack to sell to local customers,” said Roe, who’s lived on his farm all his life. “It’s been a good year [for apples], one of the best I’ve seen.” To harvest his crop on his 240-acre fruit and vegetable farm, Roe hires Jamaican workers through the federal government’s guest worker program, which requires him to validate the legal status each worker he hires. “We’ve had adequate numbers of workers, but they’re not easy to find,” said Roe. “The local people just don’t want to do farm work. But, we’re in good shape.” During a recent visit to Roe’s Orchard, thousands upon thousands of ripe apples of all kinds were being handpicked on pristine grounds by his staff. “The weather was beautiful for the apple crop,” said Roe, whose farm was started by his great-great grandfather in 1827. His children, now the sixth generation, are still working there. “With the showers and sunshine, it’s been a good balance.” During a recent visit to Applewood, a large number of people were walking the orchards, with full bags of apples in tow and some apple trees were picked clean. “Our biggest problem is the teenagers,” Hull said, many who disregard “apple etiquette” by running around and climbing trees. “We don’t do class trips for this group anymore. We’re down to preschoolers, and there are plenty of them. They’re well-behaved and delightful.” While nearly 100 percent of Roe’s business involves selling directly to customers and wholesalers, the majority of Hull’s apple business comes from customers who pick their own. “We do pick apples for the shop, but the public really does it for us,” he said. “With the late rains in August, it’s been a really good crop for us.” Roe agreed, watching workers on bright sunny day reaching for apples while perched on tall ladders. “There’s a lot of apple trees here,” he said. “And, there’s quite a lot of apple picking to do yet.”