Every autumn, as the air turns crisp, we can’t help but think of apple season. Orchards glow in shades of red, green, and gold, each apple variety offering its own distinctive texture and sweetness.
Let’s take a look at some fun facts about apples, along with ways to enjoy the season.
🍎Did you know…
Washington State is the top producer of apples in the United States, this includes producing over 90% of the country’s organic apple crop. The state has been the leading U.S. apple producer since the 1920s. This is mainly due to their hot, dry summers, cold, crisp winters, and volcanic soil.
🍏Apple season
Here are just a few popular apple varieties and their typical harvest seasons as shared by flavorycooking.com.
Early-season varieties: Apples that are ready to harvest in late summer to early fall, around August or September, include Paula Red, Zestar, and Ginger Gold.
Mid-season varieties: Apples that are ready to harvest in mid-to-late fall, around October or November, include Honeycrisp (my favorite!), Fuji, and Golden Delicious.
Late-season varieties: Apples that are ready to harvest in late fall to early winter, around November or December, include Granny Smith, Braeburn, and Cripps Pink (Pink Lady).
What’s your favorite kind of apple? Let me know in the comment section, I would love to hear from you!
🍎When is an apple ripe and ready to pick?
Here are some ways to tell if an apple is ripe and ready for picking brought to you by greenthumbdaily.com. Check for vibrant color, firm flesh, and a sweet aroma.
Start with the stem – The stem of a ripe apple twists off easily. If it resists, give it more time.
Do a taste test – A balance of sweet with a hint of tart means it’s ready.
Cut one open – Brown seeds and cream-colored flesh signal maturity. Underripe flesh looks greenish.
Fuji, Granny Smith, and Honeycrisp keep well for months when refrigerated. Late-season apples like Pink Lady also hold their texture better than summer types. You can even freeze apples for later use! Slice them, toss with lemon juice to prevent browning, and store in airtight bags to keep them perfect for pies or sauces.
🍏Ways to enjoy apple season
What are some ways to enjoy apple season? Check out these ideas also brought to you by flavorycooking.com.
Visit a local orchard: Many orchards offer pick-your-own apple options.
Try a new variety: With so many apple varieties to choose from, why not try something new?
Make a delicious apple treat: From pies, crisps, crumbles and cobblers, to ciders, sauces and much more, you’re sure to discover an easy recipe to follow.
Attend an apple festival: Many towns and cities host apple festivals that celebrate the season with a variety of fun events.
🍎Scanning your apple purchases
Fruits and vegetables usually don’t have UPC barcodes. But, you can still report them! When buying apples, if there’s no barcode to scan, use the Non-Barcoded Items list in the NCPMobile app to report the purchase. Select the Fruit category, then select Apples. On the Item Details screen, enter the total amount you paid for the apples and if you received any type of promotion. If you use NCP’s handheld scanner, refer to the Barcode Reference Booklet.
I hope this season is the apple-solute best one yet!
Regards,
Taylor
More From NCP:
Fall’s Favorite Fruit
What’s in Season?
Leaping into Fall
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Honeycrisp always seems to be my go-to despite trying almost all the brands you’ve listed. I do like the Granny Smith apples in a salad with cajun shrimp dishes or especially when watching my weight. Look forward to trying some of the recipes. Favorite article to date, Thanks so much.
🍎🌳🍏 I’m from & live in North Georgia. My family & I always attend the annual
“Georgia Apple festival“ in Ellijay, Ga which is about 45 min away from my home.
The Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay has been celebrated annually since 1971. This means that as of 2025, the festival has a proud history of 54 years. It was initiated to honor the region’s apple orchards, which became significant after the decline of cotton production due to the boll weevil in the 1920s.
The festival typically occurs over two weekends in October & features a variety of activities, including arts & crafts, food vendors, (usually around 300), corn mazes, & live music, making it a cherished local event.
A few fun facts about Ellijay~~>
1. Ellijay is known as the Apple Capital of Georgia.
2. Ellijay has 9 Apple orchards with a few Apple orchards located in neighboring Cities
3. There is an estimated total of about 55,000 people that attend this “Georgia Apple Festival” & nearby orchards every year!!
Our (My Family’s) favorite Orchard to visit a few times per year is in Blue Ridge, Ga (20min away from Ellijay). It’s called
“Mercier Orchards” which is a fourth-generation family & veteran-owned & operated apple orchard founded back in 1943 by Bill & Adele Mercier. They’ve got 80 yrs of farming under their belts. Be sure to go pick your very own apples (they grow a total of 40 different varieties of delicious apples), you can also pick your own strawberries, blueberries, & blackberries from their Orchard!! Be sure to go inside the amazing market/store for their delicious fresh baked goods (their fried apple pies are the best ever), treats & goodies, Apple cider & now the making & tasting of “Hard Apple cider”, along with some specialty items from the market when you visit.
**It’s also a Family tradition for my Momma & Aunt to go to a few of the 10 Apple houses located in Ellijay & Blue Ridge, Ga to go Apple picking for apples for their “Sister Day” of Canning 50+ quarts of the most delicious “Apple Butter” & “Apple sauce”. They do this every year to stock up on for the next year for all of us & to gift friends.
**So Fall/October is my favorite Season of the year & this is one big reason why!!** 🍎🌳🍏
Thank you for taking the time to share this information Leighann! Very interesting. Sounds like you have some wonderful family traditions.
Thanks, Charlie!