Apple Picking: A Fun, Autumn Pastime with a Fruit of Historical Significance

With the comfortable, temperate climate and the attractive, colorful foliage, we couldn’t ask for a better season than autumn to witness various apples peaking at their proper ripeness to satisfy the fruit palettes of many. And if you desire to be a connoisseur of the various edible apples, what better place to be a student than at an apple orchard? We indeed couldn’t ask for a more festive way to view and gather apples than by hand and preferably with a group of like-minded individuals. After all, what better way to embrace and enjoy this cherished fruit in the fall than apple picking?

A Modern Fruit of Historical Significance

Consumers’ delight in apples that can be enjoyed as various types of sweets and beverages have led many to symbolize the fruit as a perfected product of mother nature. For centuries, many societies have included the fruit as a dietary staple and considered it an emblem of importance. Some would argue that the apple continues to garner reverence from most people in one form or another, as it seems to hold a prominent status among all crops. And saying it has prominence in the eyes of many is no exaggeration. If you don’t believe me, just look around and notice countless individuals possessing a computer or mobile device manufactured by a profitable technology company that wisely chose this recognizable fresh produce as its namesake and trademark.

Consider this fact: the varieties of identified apples worldwide number nearly 8,000, according to the Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association. That’s a significant diversity of the round, recognizable crop known to grow in various colors, including golden yellow, green, red, and, in some types, partial shades of all three. Also, evidence of humans’ consumption of and fascination with apples dates back to antiquity. All a person needs to do is refer to one of numerous historical accounts revealing the apple’s ubiquity in various cultures and societies. Examples are many and range from biblical accounts, such as the story of Adam and Eve and the Forbidden Fruit, to the ancient Greek custom of a man proposing to a woman by tossing her an apple, to Isaac Newton positing the Universal Law of Gravity after questioning why an apple falls straight to the ground. There’s also archaeological evidence from ancient civilization sites across Europe and West Asia that humans gathered this fruit for many millennia.

So, it’s no surprise that many people, past and present, hold great respect for one of nature’s most abundant, edible creations. It’s also no surprise that numerous individuals longed for the taste of the incredible, edible apple–to borrow from the once proverbial “incredible, edible egg.” Suppose we just contemplate its existence as an easily accessible food source. In that case, we’re immediately reminded of the many delicious recipes for baking a pie or loaf, canning a preserve, or creating the perfect spiced apple cider, among other delectable choices. There is also the long-standing practice by some with a sweet tooth to eagerly dip their apple in a pot of melted caramel and top it off with chocolate chips. And we cannot forget its convenience as a healthy snack that anyone can grab on the go. Yes! The apple is a popular fruit that appeals to the appetite of millions worldwide. It becomes a particularly sought-after crop during the autumn season. While various types of apples are conveniently available at your local grocery store, procuring the fruit directly from the apple grower adds a festive quality during the season when it’s ready for harvesting.

An Apple a Day…

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is as cliche as you can get with the edible fruit that pomologists call Malus domestica. Perhaps “an apple a day keeps the doctors away during the autumn season because they’re flocking to the orchards and farms to gather any apples they can find before they’re all gone” may be a better phrase to reflect the popularity of this delightfully tasty, round produce. It undoubtedly leaves farmers and orchard owners all smiles before Halloween rolls in.

While my family and I don’t worship the Malus domestica per se, we relish its taste. For this reason, we welcome the opportunity to go apple picking in early autumn. This year interestingly marks the first time since 2021 that we embarked on a perennial family outing to an apple orchard. Our attempt to understand the reason for the 36-month hiatus was futile, as we couldn’t determine why we missed out on a favorite autumn pastime for so long. Whatever the reason, we were excited to resume reaching for apples hanging on low, mid, and high branches and sampling some as we traversed the colonnades of various apple trees. Yet, the adventure doesn’t conclude with an apple-filled carry bag.

Many orchards and farm owners strive to make apple pickers’ visits much more than picking apples. For instance, a day at the apple orchard necessitates a stop by the grower’s store. Besides the apparent aroma from the store’s ovens and apple presses, there’s usually a good selection of apple-made items, including cider, candied apples, apple pies, apple crisp, and apple cider doughnuts. They’re indeed worth the wait in a line stretching out the door. But the fun only begins after the checkout counter.

Playgrounds for kids (and, in some cases, adults), a small petting zoo, one or more props for photos, a pumpkin patch, a tractor ride, and ready-to-serve grilled burgers and hotdogs are among the many festive options available to visitors. So, in truth, going apple picking is more like a countryside day trip of fun-filled activities. These enjoyable offerings, alongside plucking apples, are why my kids insisted to my wife and me that we can’t miss another harvest season.

Are You Inspired to Reach for Hanging Apples?

You may ask if it is worth trekking to the countryside to visit a field with tractors, dirt roads, and rows of fruit-bearing trees when the grocery store is a short trip from home. My answer would be an unequivocal “yes!” It’s obvious I’m partial to this apple-infused activity. But it is indeed a trip that is well worth your time. So, if you have never ventured to an apple orchard or farm to pick apples, there’s still time this season, which concludes in early November. Use your web browser to search for any near you. With any luck, you’ll find one, if not more than one. And understand that it’s a uniquely autumn experience you will likely turn into an annual tradition.

To know when different apple types are ready for picking, refer to the apple-ripening chart on the Food Forrest Nursery website. And the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology published a 2019 article on the apple’s origins that’s informative and worth reading.