Updated 16 Sep 2009: For those interested in u-pick apple in Richmond BC, Cherry Lane Fruit Farm is the only place I know that offers u-pick apple. Cherry lane is located at 2511 No.4 Road (enter off Beckwith Rd. behind Costco). Cherry Lane Fruit Farm contact number is 778-833-3379.
It is more important to blog about apples now because this topic is time sensitive, you see. So, I am taking a one day intermission from the Atlanta series to blog about the apple season starting about this time of the year.
We know of a U-Pick in Abbotsford called Apple Barn. They have a website at http://applebarn.ca. The apple picking seasons started on Saturday last week and will last until mid to late October. If you had not experience picking your own apples before, you should plan to make your way there. It is great fun.
When we were there last weekend, only the Gala apples were opened for picking. Most of the other varieties will be available for picking starting next weekend. This was OK since my favourite apple is Gala anyway.
Since this was the first week and only Gala was available, there were not many people during this weekend. I think it would get a lot more busier starting next week. A few close family friends of ours went there early (the orchard opens at 10AM last weekend) and had practically the entire orchard to ourselves.
For the Gala apples, it costs $6 for 10lb. They don’t weigh what you pick. As long as you could fit all the apples in the 10lb bag, and that the handles touches, it’ll be $6. They also have 20lb bags which costs $10 but that was way too much for our small family. Next week, when they open to more varieties, it will costs a bit more. Check their website for their pricing. I figured that u-pick apples is about half the cost of what you pay for in the supermarkets.
Besides the fun of picking apples, the big deal about u-picks is that you get really fresh apples. They were extremely crunchy and gives a loud crunch when bitten into. I am not sure if it is OK to eat a few while you pick but I had one. Bring along some water to wash the apples before you eat them. I am not sure what pesticides are used if any.
You see the apple above I took? Well, there are worms in the one I had. I did not realize it until later. Oh … I am not sure if I had swallowed it!
Some of the Galas were really small. Vince love them but I did not try it. I had a few in the bag somewhere … will try it tomorrow. Our boys does not like apples and what that means is that between Suanne and I, we’ll have to finish them off before they go bad. 5 lbs each. Oh …
We’re not supposed to pick Honeycrisps until next week. Well, I took one nice big one and stuff it right into the middle of the bag. It was great … you should go for them when they open the Honeycrisps for picking next week. I am sure that they’ll be picked cleaned out if you wait another week or so.
If you have nothing planned for the weekend the next couple of weeks, go and make a trip to Apple Barn. Tell them you found them through http://chowtimes.com.
What are you going to do with all those apples that you picked? Here are some great recipes for you:
- Apple Chutney
- Multigrain Apple Cinnamon Buttermilk Pancakes
- Maple Apple Pudding
- Apple Banana Muffin
- Butternut Squash Apple Soup
- Apple Celery Salad
- Canning Apple Pie Filling
- Canning Apple Sauce
- Apple Cabbage Coleslaw
- Apple Crumble
- Toffee Apple Cake
- Brown Basmati Apple Walnut Salad
- Apple Raisin Curry Chicken
- Charoset
- 3 Ginger Pear Chutney
- Baked Apples
- Winter Coleslaw
- Cranberry Fruit Compote
- Roasted Chicken with Apple Stuffing
- Apple Cranberry Crisp
- Norwegian Apple Pie
Back to regular programming tomorrow …
It’s weird but I haven’t seen any Honey Crisp apples in the grocery stores here yet. I guess our apple season starts in October, and we’re not that far from you guys! Weird, huh?
I love Honey Crisp apples…I buy like 7 a week so I have something for a snack for us. An apple a day! 🙂
I had that happen to me once. Ate half an apple before I realized there was a worm inside. Now I cut up all of my fruit before I eat it.
Nice apples. I saw an apple tree somewhere on my way home. However, I’m not dare to eat it as I heard that some apples are not supposed to be eaten…
Maybe Suanne can make something out apples so your boys would eat them?
Honey Crisp apples are available for picking. I visited Apple Barn this morning with my relatives from overseas. They enjoyed it so much. Honey Crisp apples are sweeter than Gala apples. We got 20 lbs and there are 4 adults at home. I guess each of us needs to finish 5 lbs of apples.
Any baking recipes for Gala / Honey Crisp apples to share?
Hi Rachel, Gala and Honey Crisp are good for eating but not suitable for baking. Firm and tart apple like Granny Smith is good for baking.
As an employee at AppleBarn, we do encourage not picking any apples till they come into season, because they are much better, and better enjoyed when we deem them ready to be picked and eaten.
Also, there is much more to the AppleBarn Pumpkin Farm than Apples. We have petting zoo, pony rides, jumping pillows, zip line, old fashioned candy, and pumpkins that make delicious pie.
You folks are so fortunate to be able to pick your own apples and so cheaply too, we don’t get to do it here in UK, not that I know of, my own favourite is Red Delicious for eating, is imported from Washington state and given the decline in value of the British Pound GBP against USD, it costs an arm and a leg to buy, well almost, maybe I should emigrate to Vancouver but I would first need to find a girlfriend there who could cook or help me cook the delicious dishes Suanne does so very well, I like snow anyway the more the better, and here in London we don’t get decent snow anymore, alas.
With apples that much, I’d also juice them to drink and perhaps make cider if
apples are really, really plentiful.
Unfortunately Apple Barn DO spray their apples with pesticides 🙁
The young woman on the phone didn’t know what type specifically.
Would be great to have a local organic u-pick option.