If autumn had an official aroma, it would be apples.
Sorry, pumpkin spice people.
With Labor Day behind us and Halloween already crowding the calendar, apples just naturally seem to roll into our consciousness. Not that they aren’t always there — What other single fruit occupies nearly as much space in the supermarket produce section year-round? — but fall brings them front and center. Maybe it’s because they fall from trees, like autumn leaves. Or maybe it’s simply because they’re delicious, if not necessarily Delicious.
If you live in Northeast Pennsylvania, you probably have a favorite place to go for apples. There’s no lack of options. It makes sense, because Pennsylvania is always among the top five apple-producing states.
Even if the weather doesn’t always cooperate. And this year, it didn’t.
The culprit was an unseasonably warm early spring that pushed fruit trees into early bloom and bud stages. Then winter suddenly came back in late April, with freezing cold and destructive frosts. The result was massive crop losses. The state Department of Agriculture estimated that, in some areas, 70% to 90% of the apple crop was ruined, with economic losses between $150 million and $200 million.
The U.S. Apple Association’s estimate for the 2026-27 crop year, issued Aug. 21, forecasts 263 million bushels produced in the United States, down 7% from last year and 3% below the five-year production average.
“The story this season really varies by region,” Chris Gerlach, USApple vice president, wrote in the production forecast. “In areas that struggled with drought last year, growing conditions have improved, and we’re hearing encouraging reports about fruit quality. Other regions, particularly parts of the mid-Atlantic, have faced significant weather-related challenges that will affect production.”
And yet, it’s autumn and we still have apples.
“Were were pretty affected by the freeze but still have a good variety,” said Victor Fluke, co-owner of County Line Orchard in Albany Twp., Berks County, about 25 miles from Pottsville, and online at countylineorchardpa.com. “This year there’s definitely a lot less fruit. I know a lot of farms that were hit worse than we were that have zero fruit or practically nothing.”
Ritter’s Cider Mill in Jefferson Twp. gets most of its apples from a farm in New York’s Hudson Valley — the same farm Ritter’s has dealt with for about 45 years, and which lost about half its crop in 2026. “We’ve had to go shopping around a little further this year,” said Ritter’s owner Sally Brinkman.
But if you go to Ritter’s or any other orchard or cidery, you might not notice much difference from any other year. The observant customer might find fewer apples of any given variety available on any given day, but the place is still awash in apples, which are sold by the pound or the peck, the half-peck or the bushel, or made into cider, cookies, pies, doughnuts or jams.
“Right now we have Cortland, Gala, McIntosh, Honeycrisp,” 10-year employee Kelsey Carroll said Monday. “As weeks go on we’ll bring in another one to two varieties at a time. People don’t have to buy just one kind; they can mix varieties. Some mix eating and baking apples.”
Ritter’s — which has a web presence at ritterscidermill.com — is open every day from Labor Day through Dec. 23. Like many apple purveyors, it offers visitors a lot more than apples, like hayrides, a hay barn and corn maze, and friendly goats, alpacas and emus. And this year, something a little different: “cow cuddling,” Brinkman said. Visitors can snuggle up with miniature Highland cows — smaller, long-haired, undeniably cute versions of standard Scottish Highland cattle.
Lakeland Orchard & Cidery for years has taken advantage of the growing interest in autumn outdoor travel. The pick-your-own orchard in Scott Twp. started its Apple Harvest Festival on Sept. 3 and will continue through Nov. 1. Calling itself “one of the largest fall orchards in Pennsylvania,” Lakeland says it has more than 30,000 apple trees with dozens of varieties.
The orchard offers more than apples, though, like photo ops with characters from fan-favorite franchises; several rides and attractions, including live music on weekends; and apple cider doughnuts and apple dumplings made fresh every day. Want to know the secrets to baking a great apple pie? Check out farm manager Julianne Roba’s Sept. 4 blog post on the orchard’s website, lakelandorchard.com.
Apples are also the main attraction — but not the only attraction — at Brace’s Orchard in Franklin Twp., Luzerne County.
“We’re doing Gala now,” said Logan Brace, co-owner of the pick-your-own orchard. “There’s always something different. In a few weeks we’ll start with Macouns once they’re ready. We’ll start with the wagon rides in about two weeks.”
Despite the disappointing spring weather, Brace said business is OK. During the April freeze, the orchard was able to use a process called “frost flying,” where a low-flying helicopter pushes warmer air from an inversion layer down to the trees and ground to mitigate losses.
“We’ve been steady,” Brace said of the just-started apple season. “Weekends are always busiest here.”
The orchard is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, all year. You can check available apple varieties on Brace’s Facebook page.
People who visit direct-from-the-farm apple sellers enjoy the ambience, operators say. It might be just the outdoors, or the aroma, or the unusual attractions that orchards can offer. You’re not likely to find baby animals wandering around the produce aisle of your local supermarket. At County Line Orchard, for example, on Oct. 3-4, customers can board a WK&S Railroad train in Kempton, disembark at the orchard and pick their own apples, then take the train back. That’s the kind of old-fashioned amenity that stores can’t match, Victor Fluke said.
“We are a family-run farm,” said Fluke, who is co-owner with his wife, Kim. “When people stop in, they’re going to either see me or my wife or children. Over the years we have built good relationships with our customers.
“People have become dissatisfied with what they’re being offered in the stores. People are looking for varieties that are different. We try not to grow just the things they’re going to find in the grocery store.”
Where the apples come from, and what’s selling best
Top 7 apple-producing states, 2026 forecast:
Washington: remains the nation’s top producer at approximately 176 million bushels, down 2% from last season.
New York: holds the No. 2 spot at approximately 32 million bushels, down 10%.
Michigan: is expected to produce 25 million bushels, down 1%.
Pennsylvania: is forecast at 5 million bushels, down 58%, following significant spring freeze damage.
California: is expected to produce approximately 4.5 million bushels, up 1%.
Oregon: is forecast at approximately 3.8 million bushels, essentially flat from last season.
Virginia: is expected to produce approximately 1.8 million bushels, down 48%, following significant spring freeze damage.
Other states: approximately 15 million bushels.
Gala is expected to retain the No. 1 spot in production, with nearly 42 million bushels, accounting for about 16% of U.S. production. The rest of the top five varieties are:
Red Delicious: approximately 30 million bushels (12%).
Granny Smith: approximately 30 million bushels (11%).
Honeycrisp: approximately 27 million bushels (10%).
Fuji: approximately 23 million bushels (9%).
SOURCE: U.S. Apple Association
Apples for sale at Brace’s Orchard in Franklin Twp., Luzerne County. (COURTESY OF BRACE’S ORCHARD)
Ty and Mark Vennick make friends Monday with miniature Highland cows at Ritter’s Cider Mill in Jefferson Twp. (COURTESY OF RITTER’S CIDER MILL)
Apple trees at County Line Orchard in Albany Twp., Berks County. (COURTESY OF COUNTY LINE ORCHARD)
Lakeland Orchard and Cidery farm manager Julianne Roba shows her daughter, Piper, the Sweet Maia apples grown at the orchard in Scott Twp. on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Sean McKeag / Staff Photographer)
Apple cider for sale at Brace’s Orchard in Franklin Twp., Luzerne County. (COURTESY OF BRACE’S ORCHARD)
Cortland apples for sale at Brace’s Orchard in Franklin Twp., Luzerne County. (COURTESY OF BRACE’S ORCHARD)
Miniature Highland cows at Ritter’s Cider Mill in Jefferson Twp., where visitors can partake in “cow cuddling.” (COURTESY OF RITTER’S CIDER MILL)
Apples and other products for sale at County Line Orchard in Albany Twp., Berks County. (COURTESY OF COUNTY LINE ORCHARD)
Apples for sale at Brace’s Orchard in Franklin Twp., Luzerne County. (COURTESY OF BRACE’S ORCHARD)
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Apples for sale at Brace’s Orchard in Franklin Twp., Luzerne County. (COURTESY OF BRACE’S ORCHARD)