Apple Picking 101: Tips for a Successful Orchard Adventure
Welcome back to the Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard blog! We’re excited to have you join us this fall for a memorable apple-picking experience. Before you head out into the orchard, there are a few things you should know to make the most of your visit.
Start at the Apple House
Your first stop should be the Apple House. Here, you can purchase containers for picking apples. It’s the perfect place to get ready for your adventure in the orchard.
The Best Way to Pick an Apple
To ensure you pick apples without damaging the tree or the fruit, remember this simple technique: lift, twist, and pull. Don’t just pull the apple off the tree. This method helps you pick the apple cleanly and keeps the tree healthy.
Pick from the Right Rows
Look for rows marked “ready to pick.” These signs indicate that the apples in those rows are mature and perfect for picking. This way, you ensure that the apples you take home are ripe and delicious.
Dropped Apples
If you accidentally pick an apple and it falls to the ground, it’s okay to pick it up and put it in your container.
Explore the Entire Row
Don’t just stop at the first tree you see. Many of our rows are quite long, and if you walk further down, you’ll likely find trees with more apples. It’s worth the extra steps!
Look Inside the Trees
Often, apples aren’t just on the outside of the tree. Check inside the tree and down low. You might find hidden treasures that others have missed. If you have small children with you, looking under the tree can be a fun adventure for them.
Handle with Care
While apples won’t break, they can bruise easily. Treat them like eggs to keep them in the best condition.
Timing Your Visit
The best time to visit is when the apples you like are ripe. Not all apples ripen at the same time, so you may need to visit more than once to get all your favorite varieties.
Dress Appropriately
Wear close-toed, comfortable shoes, as you may be doing a lot of walking. The grass can be wet, and since we are located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, much of the orchard isn’t flat.
Storing Your Apples
Our favorite way to store apples is in airtight plastic bags in the refrigerator. We recommend Ziploc-style bags—make sure to get all the air out before sealing. Don’t wash the apples until you’re ready to use them. Some varieties store better than others. For example, Honeycrisp and Golden Delicious won’t keep as long as Pink Lady or Granny Smith. The Stepp family loves keeping Pink Lady, Cameo, and Fuji apples. We even have old refrigerators in our basement specifically for storing apples over the winter. Some years, we enjoy Pink Lady apples well into the spring!
Alternative Storage
If you don’t have refrigerator space, store your apples in a cool place where the temperature doesn’t fluctuate. They won’t last as long as in a fridge, but they’ll still be delicious for a while.
We hope these tips help you have a fantastic apple-picking experience at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard. Happy picking!