Picking your own apples in Door or Kewaunee counties? Here's what you need to know
DOOR AND KEWAUNEE COUNTIES - The pick-your-own apple season has arrived in Northeast Wisconsin, and orchard managers in Door County say the usual amount of apples should be waiting for people to pluck them from the trees this year.
Overall, orchards are reporting that the crop available for pick-your-owns is about average for the number of apples, although at least one in Door County and one in Kewaunee County report they have bumper crops. And the individual fruits reportedly are average-sized or in some cases a little smaller than normal.
Of course, the main factor is the weather. This summer saw an unusual drought that ranged from "abnormally dry" to "moderate drought" ratings for Door and Kewaunee counties from the U.S. Drought Monitor combined with lengthy stretches of well-above-average heat. The dry weather slowed the fruits' growth on the trees, although the heat did accelerate their ripening.
"The apples are looking pretty good," said Carrie Lautenbach-Viste, director of sales and marketing for Lautenbach's Orchard Country in Fish Creek. "They are going to be a little smaller this year because we haven't had a lot of rain. There's still a lot of them."
Further south, Bob Fellner of Fellner Orchards in Sturgeon Bay also said his crop seems about average this year, although the individual apples might be a little smaller because of the dry summer.
"The drought took its toll, but we watered as best as we could," Fellner said.
Skipp Robertson, owner/manager of Robertson's Orchards of Door County in rural Sturgeon Bay, said his trees hold a "good-sized crop" of average-size apples this year. He said a hailstorm in July dented some of the fruits, but they were at an early stage of development at the time so it didn't damage them extensively.
"From what I've seen, the apples are sizing up the way they normally do," Robertson said. "Right now, they're average size. I'd say it's a usual crop. There's lots of good apples out there, but you have to look at them (for dents or damage)."
But Debbie Musil, manager of Choice Orchards in Sturgeon Bay, said she has the best and biggest apple crop she can remember there. She said the heavy rains came often enough to help the apples blossom, and the unusual heat did offer the benefit of ripening the fruits more quickly.
In fact, Choice Orchards opened for pick-your-owns of some early-season apples the first weekend of September, about a week earlier than normal, and picking for Zestar and Ginger Gold apples there is already done for the season. And both Choice and Robertson orchards expect to have a few ripe or almost-ripe Honeycrisp apples, normally a late-season apple, ready to pick by Sept. 8.
"It's a huge crop," Musil said. "If we hadn't gone out and picked some, branches would've been breaking. (Apples) were hanging like grapes. … The heat was the main thing, then you got rain at the right time. There'd be a drought, then you'd get a good inch, inch and three-quarters of rain. And the bee pollinators must've been great this year."
In Kewaunee County, Hillside Apples in Casco also said it has an excellent crop this year, with heavier rains over the past few weeks helping the size of the fruits.
"Despite the heat, the apple crop is looking phenomenal for this upcoming season," the orchard wrote on its website. "The trees for most of the varieties we grow are looking full with apples. And with the recent rain, they are starting to size up as well. Our Honeycrisp crop is one of the best we've had in recent years and we should have plenty for this upcoming season."
FYI
Here's a list of apple orchards holding pick-your-own seasons in Door County, gathered from websites and phone calls. The season usually lasts until the middle to end of October, basically as long as they're available for picking, but it can end sooner depending on how quickly the apples are picked and if they ripen quicker than expected.
Interested pickers should call the orchards or visit their websites, especially their Facebook pages, for the latest information, including open dates and the apple varieties available at a given time. Also, remember that most offer pre-picked fresh apples for sale along with other apple products.
Door County
Choice Orchards, 4594 County HH, Sturgeon Bay: Zestar and Ginger Gold apples are gone, but Gala and McIntosh apples are available as of Sept. 8, along with a few early Honeycrisps. Expecting Cortlands to be ready by the end of September; Snowsweets, Macouns and Honeycrisps in early October. Expecting to be open through October. 920-743-8980, choiceorchard.com or "Choice Orchards" Facebook page.
Cherry Lane Orchards, 7525 Cherry Lane, Sturgeon Bay: Pick-your-own McIntosh and Cortland apples expected to be ready in late September, lasting to mid-October. 920-856-6864, cherrylaneorchards.com or "Cherry Lane Orchards" Facebook page.
Robertson Orchards of Door County, 2575 S. Shiloh Road, Sturgeon Bay: Viking, Red Free, Ginger Gold, Wealthy and Paula Reds currently ready for pick-your-owns; McIntoshes, Cortlands and some Honeycrips ready by Sept. 9. Red Delicious, Granny Smith and Ida Red apples around the end of the month. Season likely to run into early November. New this year is a corn maze next to the barn; $5 per person or $20 for a family or group. 920-743-1351 or facebook.com/RobertsonOrchards.
Fellner Orchards, 4214 Cherry Road, Sturgeon Bay: Opening between Sept. 20 and 23 for McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Wealthy and Double Red Cortland apples. 920-883-1174 or "Fellner Orchards" Facebook page.
Lautenbach's Orchard Country, 9197 State 42, Fish Creek: Open Sept. 23, expecting to have pick-your-owns available into early October. Honeycrisp, Gala, McIntosh, Cortland, Macoun, Blondee, Jonagold and Regency varieties, possibly more depending on ripening. 866-946-3263, orchardcountry.com or facebook.com/orchardcountry.
Hyline Orchards, 8240 State 42, Fish Creek: Information not available to the Advocate as of Sept. 6. 920-868-3067, hylineorchards.com or "Hyline Orchard Farm Market Inc." Facebook page.
Kewaunee County
Hillside Apples, E2237 State 54, Casco: Open for Paula Red and Zestar picking; expecting to open for Ginger Gold by Sept. 8; McIntosh, Cortland, Molly Delicious apples mid-September; Wolf River apples between middle and end of the month; Honeycrisps around the end of September. Expecting to have availability on most until mid- to late October. 920-837-7440, hillsideapples.com or "Hillside Apples" Facebook page.
Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com.
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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Here's what to know to pick your own apples in Door, Kewaunee counties
