Apples

Hi,

For the first time this season, I visited my favorite boutique apple orchard hoping to buy some apples. Vincent is an apple hobbyist who sells apples for a side income and his finite ability to consume. At this time of year, when you drive up his driveway the trees are weighted down with apples. Saturday, I thought I was watching a repetitive cartoon backdrop: few trees had apples and those that did looked like Charlie Brown's with one apple weighing down only one branch of an otherwise fruitless tree. In a flash, I guessed Vincent's trees experienced a frost during apple blossom time; which he confirmed.

Vincent's orchard is located between Hebron and Richmond, which is maybe 20 miles west of I-94 along the Illinois-Wisconsin border. If you pick apples in this region, then you may want to phone to verify availability before setting off.

Next year, you may want to consider a visit to Vincent:

Hebron Orchard
7805 Kemman Road
Hebron, IL
815/648-4342

I will be checking the other orchards I visit in the next few weeks and will advise.

Ela Orchard
Rochester, Wisconsin
Tel: 414/534-2545 or 534-4531

Located 1/4 mile west of Rochester on Highway D
Approximately 2 hours from Madison and Chicago, 1 hour from Milwaukee

This orchard has been in action since the 1920's.

Call in advance to assure apples are available.

Varieties are staggered as follows:

Late July-August: Lodi

August into September: Melba

Late August into September: Milton, Paula Red, Wealth

September-October: McIntosh, Cortland, Macoun, Snow, Parker Pears, Moonglow Pears

Late September into winter: Spartan, Red Delicious, Empire, Liberty, Jonathon

October-November: Golden Delicious, Greening

October into Winter: Ida Red, Stayman Winesap, Rome Beauty, Black Willow Twig, Golden Russet

Other old varieties: Liveland Raspberry, Charlemoff, Wolf River, Tolman Sweet, Northern Spy, Seek No Further

Wisconsin Apple Grower's Association

Apple Information

David Benscoter honed his craft as an investigator for the F.B.I. and the United States Treasury, cornering corrupt politicians and tax evaders. The lost apple trees that he hunts down now are really not so different. People and things, he said, tend to hide in plain sight if you know how and where to look.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/29/us/a ... -ipad&_r=0