Apple Harvest Underway in Wayne County, NYS

The harvest of New York State’s most popular apple varieties begins this week. Growers are emphasizing to the public that the recent Hurricane Irene damage did NOT affect the apple crop.A complete directory of the state’s orchards, as well as variety info, recipes and health facts can be found online at www.nyapplecountry.com.“We’ve got a beauty of a crop,” said Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association.“While our hearts go out to our brothers and sisters in other areas of agriculture who sustained huge damage from Irene, our crop of apples weathered the storm quite well,” Allen said.The quality of the fruit this season is outstanding, with a sunshiny, arid summer putting high sugar levels into fruit, according to grower reports.”Consumers should expect super sweet apples from our growers this fall,” Allen said.McIntosh apples are being picked right now across the state. Other varieties due next week in most orchards include Gala and Honeycrisp.Consumers should also look for the Zestar, a new variety showing up in select orchards and retailers.The New York Apple Association is again partnering with retailers this fall to help alert consumers to the local aspect of the crop.Consumers looking for help in the shopping aisles for picking out good apples can download the “ThemApples” app from the Apple App Store.“There’s an app for that,” Allen said.”Buy local” signage and “New Crop Apple” displays will be in place in most supermarket produce departments.Apples grown locally taste better, are more crunchy and fresh and leave a smaller “carbon footprint” since they travel shorter distances to market, helping the environment.Growers are predicting a 30 million bushel crop, with outstanding growing conditions throughout much of the summer, despite the heavy rains of the past month. Availability Dates For 2011 New York Apple Crop:Jersey Mac In the barnPaula Red In the barnTydeman In the barnGinger Gold In the barnJonamac In the barnZestar This weekMcIntosh This weekGala This weekHoneycrisp 9/16-9/20Cortland 9/16-9/25Macoun 9/22-10/5Spartan 9/15-10/10Empire 9/29-10/10Red Delicious 9/25-10/10Jonagold 9/26-10/15Crispin 9/30-12/1Lady Apple 9/15-9/20Golden Delicious 10/10-10/18Jonathan 10/4-10/6Rome 10/15-10/25Idared 10/15-10/20Fortune 10/10-10/20Fuji 10/13-11/1Cameo 10/15-10/20Stayman 10/16-10/30Northern Spy 10/20-11/520 Ounce 9/25-10/30Braeburn 10/15-11/6