The sultry August days have just started, and autumn is still a way off, however, apple picking in Henderson County is underway. Early varieties like Ginger Gold are beginning to get ripe. Soon, there will be Galas and Honeycrisps and at some point, your favorite apple will be mature.

It’s been a challenging year for Henderson County apple growers. Early freezes in April on two separate occasions took its toll on some of the yield. However, as always, the Henderson County apple farmers have soldiered through the difficulties and have fresh apples available. They may not be quite as plentiful as in some years, however, there will be apples at your local farm stand.

Henderson County is in a unique area for apple production. With the elevations at which we grow our apples, the fruit have the warm days in which to build up sugars and the cooler nights which allow the fruit to store more sugar. This produces the crisp, sweet apples that so many people enjoy each year.

Many folks like to pick their own apples and that may be somewhat less available this year as the fruit is not as concentrated on the trees as usual making picking your own a bit trickier. However, most of the roadside venues are expected to be open with a good supply of fresh apples. Pre-picked apples should be in good supply.

Of course, there will be all the amenities of apple season. There will be donuts and pies and other baked goods. There will be apple canons and corn mazes and pumpkin patches. There will be cider and slushies and ice cream. There will be fun for the whole family. Some vendors also now have table grapes and sunflowers.

Farm tours are available at many locations as well. Be sure to call ahead to check supply and available varieties. A couple useful resources can be found at ncapples.com and blueridgeapplegrowers.com. What a great time of year to visit the mountains!!