"This year is probably going to be one of the best years state-wide for apples in Central New York," said George Joseph, owner of North Star Orchards in Westmoreland. "Locally in the Mohawk Valley, we're probably experiencing one of the best years in probably 15 years."
Because apples don't grow seasonally, Joseph says there are ways to control how they grow better than crops that grow throughout the year.
"These are perennial crops; perennial crops will weather four inches of rain like we had in July. So perennials, they spread it out over a longer period and so they've benefited in size and quantity."
And while the rain can alter the size of the apples, the colder weather can change the taste.
"As we get cooler weather, actually that benefits the apple," Joseph said. "As far as the sugar, it's sweeter."
After some TLC during farming, and a lot of help from Mother Nature, Joseph says the crops are good to go for the fall.
"As long as we do what we can do and keep it healthy and keep the bugs out and keep disease out and let Mother Nature let it grow, we we'll end up with a crop like this," he said.
Source: cnyhomepage.com
