{"id":286997,"date":"2026-09-16T04:14:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T04:14:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/286997\/"},"modified":"2026-09-16T04:14:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T04:14:14","slug":"if-its-almost-fall-it-must-be-apple-time-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/286997\/","title":{"rendered":"If it’s (almost) fall, it must be apple time"},"content":{"rendered":"

If autumn had an official aroma, it would be apples.<\/p>\n

Sorry, pumpkin spice people.<\/p>\n

With Labor Day behind us and Halloween already crowding the calendar, apples just naturally seem to roll into our consciousness. Not that they aren\u2019t always there \u2014 What other single fruit occupies nearly as much space in the supermarket produce section year-round? \u2014 but fall brings them front and center. Maybe it\u2019s because they fall from trees, like autumn leaves. Or maybe it\u2019s simply because they\u2019re delicious, if not necessarily Delicious.<\/p>\n

If you live in Northeast Pennsylvania, you probably have a favorite place to go for apples. There\u2019s no lack of options. It makes sense, because Pennsylvania is always among the top five apple-producing states.<\/p>\n

Even if the weather doesn\u2019t always cooperate. And this year, it didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Apple Association\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe story this season really varies by region,\u201d Chris Gerlach, USApple vice president, wrote in the production forecast. \u201cIn areas that struggled with drought last year, growing conditions have improved, and we\u2019re hearing encouraging reports about fruit quality. Other regions, particularly parts of the mid-Atlantic, have faced significant weather-related challenges that will affect production.\u201d<\/p>\n

And yet, it\u2019s autumn and we still have apples.<\/p>\n

\u201cWere were pretty affected by the freeze but still have a good variety,\u201d said Victor Fluke, co-owner of County Line Orchard in Albany Twp., Berks County, about 25 miles from Pottsville, and online at countylineorchardpa.com<\/a>. \u201cThis year there\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ritter\u2019s Cider Mill in Jefferson Twp. gets most of its apples from a farm in New York\u2019s Hudson Valley \u2014 the same farm Ritter\u2019s has dealt with for about 45 years, and which lost about half its crop in 2026. \u201cWe\u2019ve had to go shopping around a little further this year,\u201d said Ritter\u2019s owner Sally Brinkman.<\/p>\n

But if you go to Ritter\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now we have Cortland, Gala, McIntosh, Honeycrisp,\u201d 10-year employee Kelsey Carroll said Monday. \u201cAs weeks go on we\u2019ll bring in another one to two varieties at a time. People don\u2019t have to buy just one kind; they can mix varieties. Some mix eating and baking apples.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ritter\u2019s \u2014 which has a web presence at ritterscidermill.com<\/a> \u2014 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: \u201ccow cuddling,\u201d Brinkman said. Visitors can snuggle up with miniature Highland cows \u2014 smaller, long-haired, undeniably cute versions of standard Scottish Highland cattle.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cone of the largest fall orchards in Pennsylvania,\u201d Lakeland says it has more than 30,000 apple trees with dozens of varieties.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Sept. 4 blog post on the orchard\u2019s website, lakelandorchard.com.<\/a><\/p>\n

Apples are also the main attraction \u2014 but not the only attraction \u2014 at Brace\u2019s Orchard in Franklin Twp., Luzerne County.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re doing Gala now,\u201d said Logan Brace, co-owner of the pick-your-own orchard. \u201cThere\u2019s always something different. In a few weeks we\u2019ll start with Macouns once they\u2019re ready. We\u2019ll start with the wagon rides in about two weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the disappointing spring weather, Brace said business is OK. During the April freeze, the orchard was able to use a process called \u201cfrost flying,\u201d where a low-flying helicopter pushes warmer air from an inversion layer down to the trees and ground to mitigate losses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been steady,\u201d Brace said of the just-started apple season. \u201cWeekends are always busiest here.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\u2019re 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\u2019s the kind of old-fashioned amenity that stores can\u2019t match, Victor Fluke said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are a family-run farm,\u201d said Fluke, who is co-owner with his wife, Kim. \u201cWhen people stop in, they\u2019re going to either see me or my wife or children. Over the years we have built good relationships with our customers.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople have become dissatisfied with what they\u2019re being offered in the stores. People are looking for varieties that are different. We try not to grow just the things they\u2019re going to find in the grocery store.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where the apples come from, and what\u2019s selling best<\/p>\n

Top 7 apple-producing states, 2026 forecast:<\/p>\n

Washington: remains the nation\u2019s top producer at approximately 176 million bushels, down 2% from last season.<\/p>\n

New York: holds the No. 2 spot at approximately 32 million bushels, down 10%.<\/p>\n

Michigan: is expected to produce 25 million bushels, down 1%.<\/p>\n

Pennsylvania: is forecast at 5 million bushels, down 58%, following significant spring freeze damage.<\/p>\n

California: is expected to produce approximately 4.5 million bushels, up 1%.<\/p>\n

Oregon: is forecast at approximately 3.8 million bushels, essentially flat from last season.<\/p>\n

Virginia: is expected to produce approximately 1.8 million bushels, down 48%, following significant spring freeze damage.<\/p>\n

Other states: approximately 15 million bushels.<\/p>\n

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:<\/p>\n

Red Delicious: approximately 30 million bushels (12%).<\/p>\n

Granny Smith: approximately 30 million bushels (11%).<\/p>\n

Honeycrisp: approximately 27 million bushels (10%).<\/p>\n

Fuji: approximately 23 million bushels (9%).<\/p>\n

SOURCE: U.S. Apple Association<\/p>\n

\"Apples<\/p>\n

Apples for sale at Brace\u2019s Orchard in Franklin Twp., Luzerne County. (COURTESY OF BRACE\u2019S ORCHARD)\n<\/p>\n

\"Ty<\/p>\n

Ty and Mark Vennick make friends Monday with miniature Highland cows at Ritter\u2019s Cider Mill in Jefferson Twp. (COURTESY OF RITTER\u2019S CIDER MILL)\n<\/p>\n

\"Apple<\/p>\n

Apple trees at County Line Orchard in Albany Twp., Berks County. (COURTESY OF COUNTY LINE ORCHARD)\n<\/p>\n

\"Lakeland<\/p>\n

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)\n<\/p>\n

\"Apple<\/p>\n

Apple cider for sale at Brace\u2019s Orchard in Franklin Twp., Luzerne County. (COURTESY OF BRACE\u2019S ORCHARD)\n<\/p>\n

\"Cortland<\/p>\n

Cortland apples for sale at Brace\u2019s Orchard in Franklin Twp., Luzerne County. (COURTESY OF BRACE\u2019S ORCHARD)\n<\/p>\n

\"Miniature<\/p>\n

Miniature Highland cows at Ritter\u2019s Cider Mill in Jefferson Twp., where visitors can partake in \u201ccow cuddling.\u201d (COURTESY OF RITTER\u2019S CIDER MILL)\n<\/p>\n

\"Apples<\/p>\n

Apples and other products for sale at County Line Orchard in Albany Twp., Berks County. (COURTESY OF COUNTY LINE ORCHARD)\n<\/p>\n

\"Apples<\/p>\n

Apples for sale at Brace\u2019s Orchard in Franklin Twp., Luzerne County. (COURTESY OF BRACE\u2019S ORCHARD)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 9<\/p>\n

Apples for sale at Brace\u2019s Orchard in Franklin Twp., Luzerne County. (COURTESY OF BRACE\u2019S ORCHARD)\n<\/p>\n

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