An Update on This Year’s Apple Harvest
We wanted to share an important update about this year’s apple harvest at the Orchard.
Unusually warm temperatures in late February and early March caused many of our apple trees to bloom nearly a month earlier than normal. Unfortunately, a deep freeze in mid-March damaged much of that early bloom, significantly impacting this season’s crop.
We were fortunate to have a good harvest of Transparent apples in early July, but the rest of the season’s harvest is still difficult to predict. Current estimates suggest the Orchard could experience crop losses of as much as 85% this year. While we do expect to have some apples available throughout the season, we don’t anticipate having every variety we typically offer.
Because many of our varieties will have such a limited harvest, we don’t expect to offer U-Pick this season. If we do have periods when larger quantities of apples become available, we’ll be sure to announce it on Facebook. We’ll also post updates as different varieties become available.
Even with a smaller apple crop, there’s still so much to enjoy at the Orchard, and we’d love to welcome you for a visit. Spend an afternoon listening to live traditional music, exploring our educational exhibits, enjoying a meal from the Apple Core Grill, taking in what we think are some of the best views along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and making memories with family and friends.
Our staff will continue monitoring fruit development throughout the season and will share updates on social media as more information becomes available. We also encourage you to check our website regularly for the latest news on apple availability.
We know many families look forward to apple season each year, and we share in the disappointment of this year’s smaller harvest. Even so, we’re grateful for the continued support of our community and excited for all that this season still has to offer. Every visit and every donation helps sustain the Altapass Foundation’s nonprofit mission to preserve the history, heritage, and culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains for future generations.
Thank you for being part of the Orchard family. We look forward to seeing you this season.