RIPENING SCHEDULE

HOME FAMILY HISTORY HOURS & ACTIVITIES COUNTRY STORE RIPENING SCHEDULE HONEY RASPBERRIES PUMPKINS SCHOOL TOURS LOCAL ATTRACTIONS MAP Apple blossom time at the orchard. Looking forward to the great tastes of fall!		GROWING FAMILY MEMORIES We have many different varieties of apples that ripen throughout the season. Listed below are our main varieties and their approximate harvest dates. Other specialty varieties ripen throughout the season. We’re sure you’ll find a fall favorite. Please be sure to call our Harvest Hotline, at 815-264-3337 for exact dates since weather can affect our picking schedule. We update our website and Harvest Hotline daily as apples become available. APPROXIMATE RIPENING SCHEDULE - Please check back or call at the end of August for exact picking dates. Not all varieties will be available for U-pick. Michigan Peaches late August Paula Red late August Wealthy early September Gala early-mid September McIntosh early-mid September Honey Crisp early-mid September Cortland mid September Spartan mid September Jonathan mid-late September Jonagold late September Empire late September Golden Delicious late September Red Delicious late September Idared early October Northern Spy early October Mutsu early October Fuji early October Red Rome mid-October Winesap mid-late October Granny Smith mid-late October LAST UPDATED 4/26/10 APPLE VARIETIES CORTLAND – Sweet, crisp apple. Excellent for eating and cooking. Known as the “salad apple”, because the flesh does not turn brown when exposed to air. EMPIRE – Slightly tart McIntosh-Red Delicious cross. Firmer than a McIntosh. FUJI – Sweet, tart flavor. Very crisp. Great for eating and cooking. Excellent keeper. GALA – Sweet, crisp apple. Very juicy. Excellent for eating and cooking. GOLDEN DELICIOUS – Very sweet, crisp apple. Excellent for eating and cooking. HONEYCRISP – Sweet, tart flavor. Crisp and juicy. Excellent for eating and cooking. IDA RED – Tart, crisp apple. Excellent for eating and cooking. Excellent keeper. Flavor improves during storage. JONATHAN - Tart, intense flavor. A favorite for eating and cooking. Good keeper. JONAGOLD – Firm, sweet-tart, juicy apple. Excellent for eating and cooking. MCINTOSH - Slightly tart apple. Excellent for sauce because it cooks apart well. Old-time favorite. Softens moderately fast. MUTSU – Slightly tart, firm apple. Excellent for eating and cooking. NORTHERN SPY - Very tart crisp apple. Excellent for pies and sauce. PAULA RED – Slightly tart, early season apple. Good for cooking and eating. Not a long keeper-soften quickly. SPARTAN - Similar to a McIntosh, but with a sweeter flavor. RED DELICIOUS – Sweet, crisp, eating apple. Not good for cooking. RED ROME – Sweet, firm apple. Excellent for eating and cooking. Good keeper. WEALTHY - Similar to a McIntosh, but a little more tart. WINESAP – Very tart, firm apple. Great for eating and cooking. Excellent winter keeper. 1 lb. of apples = 3-4 apples. This makes 4 c. chopped or sliced apples or 1-1/2 c. sauce. 2 to 2-1/2 lbs. of apples makes a 9” pie. This is a favorite recipe from our Honey Hill Orchard Cookbook.* We receive many compliments on it. Caramel Apple Bars Crust Filling 3/4 c. softened butter 4-1/2 c. peeled, chopped apple 1 c. brown sugar 3 tbsp. flour 1-3/4 c. flour 12 oz. jar caramel ice cream topping 1 c. rolled oats 1 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 c. chopped pecans Cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add flour, oats, salt and baking soda. Mix well. Stir in pecans. Reserve 2 cups. Press remaining oat mixture into the bottom of 9x13 inch baking pan. Toss apples with flour. Spoon over crust. Drizzle caramel ice cream topping over apples. Top with reserved oat mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. These are delicious served warm with ice cream. YUM! *The Honey Hill Orchard Cookbook is available in the Apple Barn Country Store.
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