Bushels of Fun

As the old saying goes, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” The colorful, juicy power fruit provides major health benefits, but Smith Mountain Lakers have even more reason to stock up on their supply this fall. Not only are apples a super food for the family, they also can be fun to pick.
    Several area orchards offer apple-picking to the public, a great way to get outdoors, get the family moving and appreciate one of nature’s best seasonal offerings.
    Danny Johnson, owner of Johnson’s Orchard at the Peaks of Otter Winery in Bedford, said late summer is the beginning of apple-picking season at his farm.
    “In this area, we have apples coming from around the first of August through the first of October,” said Johnson. “September is probably the best time for all varieties.”
    When the apples are ripe and ready, farm visitors can enjoy hands-on harvesting. There are close to 150 apple varieties growing at Johnson’s 200-plus-acre farm.
    “We have the new ones, the old antique varieties. When I decided to do pick-your-own, I just planted whatever I saw. I tell people, ‘Just go out and taste it. When you find what you want, just pick it,’” he said.
    Johnson said people are drawn to apple-picking for a number of reasons.
    “It’s fun. It’s educational. It’s a family activity. It’s a healthy exercise. It’s safe,” he said. “You know, combined with the visit to [see] our farm animals, it makes a delightful day for everyone.”
    Gross’ Orchard in Bedford also lets visitors pick their own apples during peak season. Owner Walter Gross said out-of-towners often come seeking the experience.
    “Some apple-pickers from big cities have never seen fruit on trees,” he said. “They’re always really happy they can select their own fruit from the tree where it grew. They pick it and, of course, sample them, too. Everybody’s excited to do it, regardless of age.”
    Gross said his apple orchard offers many varieties not found in a supermarket.
    “We grow about 20 varieties — Galas, Golden Red Delicious, Fuji, Granny Smith are the major ones. We also have Macintosh and Ginger Gold — a nice apple discovered growing in nearby Nelson County after Hurricane Camille. It’s the No. 1 apple on the state chart of apples now,” said Gross.
    Children from the pre-school program at Bethlehem United Methodist in Moneta get a hands-on apple-picking experience at a Bedford orchard each fall. Director Terry Saul said a field trip to an orchard reinforces a week of learning about apples in the classroom.
    “We’ve been going every year since 1999,” she said. “The children really enjoy it. The 3-year-olds visit Gross’ Orchard and get to fill up their own bag of apples. Last year they went on a wagon ride and took a tour.
    “We take the 4-year-olds to Johnson’s Orchard where they hear stories and explore the apple trees. A lot of times, their families will make apple pies and cobblers with them at home.”
    Both orchard owners said apple-pickers come for the activity as much as the take-home supply, which may end up in pies, fried, canned, sauced, or used in any number of ways. Johnson said how the pickers use the apples depends a lot on their age.
    “Times have changed,” he said. “Twenty-five to 30 years ago I would have said most people would have bought them to can, to freeze, put in a root cellar and keep for the winter. Nowadays, people want to buy what they can eat from hand. Where people bought bushels years ago, now they buy gallons.”
    “It’s fun. It’s educational. It’s a family activity. It’s a healthy exercise. It’s safe,” he said. “You know, combined with the visit to [see] our farm animals, it makes a delightful day for everyone.”
    Gross’ Orchard in Bedford also lets visitors pick their own apples during peak season. Owner Walter Gross said out-of-towners often come seeking the experience.
    “Some apple-pickers from big cities have never seen fruit on trees,” he said. “They’re always really happy they can select their own fruit from the tree where it grew. They pick it and, of course, sample them, too. Everybody’s excited to do it, regardless of age.”
    Gross said his apple orchard offers many varieties not found in a supermarket.
    “We grow about 20 varieties — Galas, Golden Red Delicious, Fuji, Granny Smith are the major ones. We also have Macintosh and Ginger Gold — a nice apple discovered growing in nearby Nelson County after Hurricane Camille. It’s the No. 1 apple on the state chart of apples now,” said Gross.
    Children from the pre-school program at Bethlehem United Methodist in Moneta get a hands-on apple-picking experience at a Bedford orchard each fall. Director Terry Saul said a field trip to an orchard reinforces a week of learning about apples in the classroom.
    “We’ve been going every year since 1999,” she said. “The children really enjoy it. The 3-year-olds visit Gross’ Orchard and get to fill up their own bag of apples. Last year they went on a wagon ride and took a tour.
    “We take the 4-year-olds to Johnson’s Orchard where they hear stories and explore the apple trees. A lot of times, their families will make apple pies and cobblers with them at home.”
    Both orchard owners said apple-pickers come for the activity as much as the take-home supply, which may end up in pies, fried, canned, sauced, or used in any number of ways. Johnson said how the pickers use the apples depends a lot on their age.
    “Times have changed,” he said. “Twenty-five to 30 years ago I would have said most people would have bought them to can, to freeze, put in a root cellar and keep for the winter. Nowadays, people want to buy what they can eat from hand. Where people bought bushels years ago, now they buy gallons.”

APPLE QUICK FACTS
• Apples contain vitamins A, B1, B2, C, and Niacin; plus nutrients, Phosphorous Magnesium, Iron and Potassium.

• An average apple contains only 80 calories.

• Applesauce is a fat-free substitute when cooking and can be used in place of oil or shortening. In addition to being healthy, applesauce makes baked goods taste moist.

• Potassium, which is found in apples, is important in regulating blood pressure.

• Antioxidant phytonutrients in apple juice help reduce cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol  (low-density lipoproteins or bad cholesterol), helping prevent cardiovascular disease.

• When eaten as a snack, apples suppress hunger longer than junk foods and the empty calories they contain. Apples are a great choice when dieting and trying to stave off hunger.

• Apples have five grams of fiber, 20 percent of the daily recommended fiber needs. That’s more than most cereals!

Source: virginiaapples.org