Away we go!  Adding more apple varieties, subtracting a few others.  I'm finding the previous two cider pressings to be most pleasing we've had yet and I'm hoping you will too.  I have a few words to share about festivities close to our home here in Adams County that I find to be worth passing along.  Keep a heads up for Mutsu and Nittany in time for next week's markets with Staymen and Cameo still a little farther from ripening.  Read on to discover which apples are new for this week's market update!

Schedule

• Saturday - Harbor East Farmers Market 8am-12noon
• Sunday - Headhouse Farmers Market 10am-2pm
• Sunday - Greenbelt Farmers Market 10am-2pm
  
• Tuesday - Kenilworth Farmers Market 3:30-6:30pm
  
• Wednesday - Wakefield Park Farmers Market 2pm-6pm
  

Market Produce

• Honeycrisp! - it's "the cat's pajamas" of eating apples
  
• Old Fashioned "Must Eat" Apple Cider - our award winning cider is finally up to the top of my discerning tastes.  This week, the cider is as good as I've learned to make it!
• Jonagold - Another "heavy hitter" on our apple display makes its debut and I've gotta be honest, these apples look as pretty in a bin as any we've grown that I've been around to see!
  
• Fuji Gap!  the wait lingers on!
  
• Smokehouse - Found another 23-bu bin in the storage today!  Great news for everyone!
• Cortland - wow!  First crop of Cortland and size is super... likewise the flavor!
• Gold Delicious - ARE NOT MUSHY!  THESE ARE FRESH FRESH FRESH!
• Red Delicious - the old standby.  Some folks just want a red apple, and we've got 'em!
  
• Empire - similar and slightly tarter than Cortland (above)
  
• Jonathan - still the most underrated apple we grow!
  
• Grimes Golden - last chance!
  
• Yellow Bartlett Pears - smooth and sweet
  
• Bosc Pears - firm and a little bit of grit to go with the sweetness!
  
• Onions - Candy are the yellow onions, Mars the red.  Both are sweet and fresh and full of flavor
  
• Potatoes - 'Eva' is the white and 'Villetta Rose' is the red.  Very versitile for baked, fried, and mashed!
• Pumpkins - old fashioned Howdens for pies and jack-o-lanterns.  Still working out the logistics of getting these hulking things to market (4-30 lbs/piece)
• Winter Squash - our mini acorns are ready, likewise dumpling and delicata squash.  Still waiting on our butternuts and spaghetti squash!
  

"Getting a Little Crowded"


That's what some of we proud locals of Adams County will be saying this weekend and next.  Not only is Adams County PA the top apple county in PA (and 5th largest nationally), but we are the host of the National Apple Harvest Festival!

This year the South Mountain Fairgrounds, located just west of Arendtsville, PA and mere minutes from Three Springs Fruit Farm, will host the 45th Annual National Apple Harvest Festival.  Each year during the first two weekends in October, the festival attracts thousands of visitors to our area and our little towns and country roads get a little busier for a change!  The festival is full of crafts, music, history and, above all, FOOD!  Specifically apples, as you might imagine.  If there's anything that can be made from an apple, you can likely find it at this festival!  And because folks familiar with the Texas state fair are sure to ask, there are no deep fried apples... yet!  Probably a good thing!

Anyhow, I thought it worth mentioning since it does a lot to help our small rural community.  I also wanted to put the idea in everyone's head in case there was ever any interest in folks coming to visit the farm.  It seems like a natural marriage for folks wanted to tour our farm to be able to take in the festival in the same trip.  So, I leave it up to you folks.  Is this something you'd be interested in for the future?  We're anxious to hear from you.  With Gettysburg a mere dozen miles or so from the Festival, it's a great chance for an affordable, however quaint, weekend getaway!

From Our Farm to Your Home,

Farmer Ben

Go!  State!  Beat!  The Illini!