RIPENING SCHEDULE

HOME FAMILY HISTORY HOURS & ACTIVITIES COUNTRY STORE RIPENING SCHEDULE CIDER HONEY RASPBERRIES PUMPKINS SCHOOL TOURS LOCAL ATTRACTIONS MAP Looking forward to the great tastes of fall! A group heading out to the orchard to pick apples and pumpkins.

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. WE WILL BE CLOSING FOR THE SEASON AFTER MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, SO NOW IS THE TIME TO STOCK UP ON YOUR SUPPLY OF APPLES.  SINCE WE ARE NEARING THE END OF THE SEASON, IT IS HARD TO PREDICT HOW LONG CERTAIN VARIETIES WILL BE AVAILABLE.  PLEASE CALL IF DRIVING OUT FOR A FAVORITE. APPROXIMATE RIPENING SCHEDULE - Please call for exact availability. Michigan Peaches                 late August                 sold out for the season Paula Red                             late August                 sold out for the season                                 Gala                                      Early September         sold out for the season Golden Supreme                   Early September        sold out for the season McIntosh                               Mid-September           sold out for the season Honey Crisp                          Mid-September           now available in barn only Cortland                                Mid-September           now available in barn only Fuji                                        Late September          now available in barn only          Jonathan                               Late September          sold out for the season Spartan                                  Late September          sold out for the season Jonagold                                Late September          now available in barn only Empire                                   Late September          now available in barn only Golden Delicious                   Late September          now available in barn only Red Delicious                        Late September          now available in barn only Idared                                    Early October             now available in barn only        Mutsu                                    Early October             sold out for the season Red Rome                              Mid-October               now available in barn only Winesap                                 Mid-October               sold out for the season Granny Smith                       Mid-October 10/24/2011 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. Topsy Turvy Apple Cake 2 tbsp. butter                                                      1/4 tsp. baking soda 1-1/2 c. peeled, sliced apples                                1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 c. raisins                                                         1 egg 1/4 c. chopped walnuts                                         1/2 c. brown sugar 2 tbsp. brown sugar                                                2 tbsp. softened butter 1-1/4 c. flour                                                          1-1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/4 tsp. cinnamon                                                  1/2 c. milk 1 tsp. baking powder Melt 2 tablespoons butter in 9 inch square baking pan.  Arrange apples, raisins and walnuts in pan.  Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons brown sugar.   Sift together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.  In mixing bowl, beat egg till foamy.  Add brown sugar, butter, vanilla and milk.  Beat well.  Beat in dry ingredients.  Spread over apples.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.  Invert pan onto serving plate.  Let stand  1 minute.  Remove pan.  Serve warm with whipped topping. *The Honey Hill Orchard Cookbook is available in the Apple Barn Country Store. Fun Apple Facts Archeologists have found evidence that humans have been enjoying apples since at least 6500 B.C. Don’t peel your apple. Two–thirds of the fiber and lots of antioxidants are found in the peel. Antioxidants help to reduce damage to cells, which can trigger some diseases. The crabapple is the only apple native to North America. One of George Washington's hobbies was pruning his apple trees.

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