The state of New York experienced a hot, dry summer, and although that isn't unusual, the length of this one was. At Becker Farms in Gasport, Melinda Vazcarra has never seen anything like it. “Not this dry. This was really dry," she said. "We’ve had hot, dry summers before, but they didn’t start as early or last as long.”
“The apples are a little bit small from this year's crop," according to Brendan Smith of Smith’s Orchard in Pendleton.
Melinda agreed. “Last year they were huge. I mean people were like, “Oh my God, I’ve never seen such big apples!” This year, they’re like, “Oh my God they’re so little!” People don’t understand that we don’t have control over that.”
The drought may have caused this year’s apples to turn out a little small, but what they lack in size they make up for in flavor.
“If it is a little bit smaller, that’s not going to be a big deal because you’re going to have a higher sugar content," Brendan explained.
“The apples are definitely going to be sweeter," Melinda agreed. "They’re nice and hard. Sometimes when it’s rainy and there’s a lot of water in the apples, they’re large, they’re juicy, but they’re not quite as sweet or they’re a little bit softer because there is so much juice in them. So this year they’re nice and crunchy and hard and sweet.”
