New York's Apple Crop Average in Size, Excellent in Quality

New York really is the Big Apple and the state’s apple growers are now demonstrating why, as pickers statewide begin harvesting a forecasted 28 million cartons – or 1.1 billion pounds – of apples over the coming weeks. 

The 2017 crop forecast was developed at U.S. Apple Association’s Crop Outlook and Marketing Conference Aug. 24-25, and updates U.S. Department of Agriculture’s July forecast, states officials with the New York Apple Association.

The association is planning a full court press to get the word out about this year’s crop to wholesale, institutional and consumer customers alike, said apple association President Cynthia Haskins.

The association reports that while New York’s 2017 apple crop will be of average size for the state, the crop size is about the only thing that will be average this year. 

The state has generally had favorable weather for bloom and during the growing season, so apple fans – wholesale and consumer alike – will find ample supplies of all their favorite New York state apples and cider this fall. Fruit size and finish are expected to be good.

“New York state grows more apples than any other state east of the Mississippi River, our state is made for growing apples,” said Haskins. “There is no reason for New Yorkers and other East Coast buyers to look any further than their own back yard for great tasting apples and apple cider.”

The apple association is also reaching out to New York consumers to encourage New Yorkers to buy local apples and cider. 

The association is highlighting the broad range of apple tourism opportunities that are available across the state, where apples are grown from the lower Hudson Valley to the upper Adirondacks, and to the west.

“Our consumer marketing is designed to complement our retail activities, by driving demand and traffic to mass-market retailers as well as to our industry’s own direct marketers,” noted Haskins.

There are many ways for New Yorkers to sample the New York state apple industry’s wares and support local apple growers at the same time, from family-friendly apple picking day trips to whole weeks dedicated to adults-only hard cider tasting.

The association’s website, www.NYAppleCountry.com is designed to help consumers find a farm market, “u pick”, cider maker or apple festival nearby, with a handy locator map located front and center on the website’s home page. 

To learn more about New York’s cider industry, consumers should visit www.NYCider.com this link.

To learn more about the New York Apple Association as well as the New York state apple industry and its wares, go to www.NYAppleCountry.com this link. 

Cider Event Planned for Feb. 18 in Albany

From state Agriculture and Markets:

In support of New York state’s farm cideries and agricultural producers, State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball and State Liquor Authority Chairman Vincent Bradley will join Nine Pin Ciderworks at its 3^rd annual Gathering of the New York Farm Cideries event Feb. 18 in Albany.

During the event, 15 farm cideries from seven regions across the state invite the public to taste and buy some of their most exclusive products made with New York-grown ingredients. 

The event also marks Nine Pin’s third anniversary as the first licensed farm cidery in New York state under the Farm Cidery Law, signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2013.   

The annual Gathering of Farm Cideries event is held at the Nine Pin Ciderworks tasting room and production facility in Albany. Attendees can enjoy up to three hours of free samples of unique ciders made from New York apples and provided by 15 different farm cideries from the Capital Region, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, Mid-Hudson region, North Country, Southern Tier and New York City.  

They also have the option to buy limited-batch ciders by the growler or bottles to go. The event will be split into two sessions: Noon to 3 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $20. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the New York State Cider Association.  

Tickets are available online by http://www.ninepincider.com/ going to this link. 

“I am thrilled to participate in this exciting event and to shine a light on the incredible synergy between the state’s farm cideries and our farms," Ball said. "New York’s craft beverage producers are some of the agricultural industry’s best customers. As their businesses succeed, the demand for agricultural products continues to grow and that’s truly a win for all New Yorkers."

“The Governor’s Farm Cidery Law has led to a renaissance in hard cider sales and production throughout New York," Bradley said. "In addition to creating 28 new manufacturers, farm cideries have driven demand for New York apples, created jobs, helped to protect the environment and increased tourism dollars in our local communities.” 

The craft beverage manufacturing industry in New York state is booming. Regulatory reforms, new legislation and robust marketing campaigns have paved the way for significant growth in the industry, which now has an annual economic impact of $3.5 billion.  

Since 2011, the number of farm-based craft beverage manufacturers in New York state has increased by 197 percent. 

Since the third anniversary of the New York Farm Cidery Law in October, the number of farm cideries has tripled from 8 in 2014 to 24 in 2016. Since then, four new farm cideries have opened, bringing the statewide total to 28.   

In addition, six farm cidery off-site branch stores have opened following changes to the Alcohol and Beverage Control Law last year, helping to boost sales, draw visitors and increase tourism in communities across the state.

New York is also home to 322 farm wineries, 149 farm breweries and 109 farm distilleries.  Twenty-three of those companies also manufacture hard cider.  

To further strengthen the industry, Cuomo’s 2017-18 Executive Budget proposes a new license allowing up to 10 Taste NY store operators to sell craft beverages along with food and souvenir items.  

Currently only vintners, brewers, and distillers that operate Taste NY stores can sell both alcohol and other products. 

Cuomo has also proposed expanding the sale of craft beverages at certain locations such as movie theaters, launching the first-ever New York Craft Beverage Week, and a new grant for craft beverage producers to engage in joint marketing campaigns and enter products in national and international competitions.

Here are the 28 cideries in New York state:

2 Way Brewing Co., Beacon
Bad Seed Cider, Highland
Blackduck Cidery, Ovid
Blue Toad Hard Cider, Rochester
Brooklyn Cider House, Brooklyn
Cider Creek Hard Cider, Canisteo
Clintondale Brewing Co., Clintondale
Cooperatown Beverage Exchange, Cooperstown
Dark Island Spirits, Alexandria Bay
Descendant Cider Co., Maspeth
Embark Craft Ciderworks, Williamson
Fishkill Farms, Hopewell Junction
Graft Cider, Newburgh
Grisamore Cider Works, Locke
Kaneb Orchards, Massena
Little Apple Cidery, Hillsdale
Metal House Cider, Ulster Park
Nine Pin Ciderworks, Albany
Riverhead Cider House, Calverton
Rogers' Cideryard, Johnstown
Saratoga Apple, Schuylerville
Sauvage Beverages, Oneonta
Sterling Cidery, Sterling
Stone Bridge Cider, Hudson
Sundog Cider, Chatham
Thompsons Cider Mill, Croton-on-Hudson
Wayside Ciders, Andes
Westwind Orchard, Accord


Those participating in the Albany event are:
Little Apple
Nine Pin
Saratoga Apple
Stone Bridge
Sundog
Black Creek 
Blackduck
Blue Toad
Embark
Bad Seed
Fishkill
Rogers' Cideryard
Brooklyn Cider House
Kaneb
Wayside

RubyFrost Apples Now In Local Stores

From Empire Farm & Dairy magazine:

Crunch Time Apple Growers’ popular RubyFrost apples are arriving now at supermarkets across the United States. They will be available for a short time only, so retailers and consumers are urged to get them now.
 
Mark Russell, RubyFrost grower and marketing director, said this year’s larger crop size means that RubyFrost will be in more stores of more retailers than ever.
 
“We can’t wait to get these great apples back to their fans, and make lots of new fans,” says Russell. To help move this year’s crop and generate returns, Crunch Time is offering our retail partners an extensive, multi-faceted marketing campaign.
 
“We can activate a broad range of conventional and digital tools, including coupons and in-store sampling as well as high-graphic displays and point-of- sale materials,” Russell said.
 
For a list of current retail partners, visit www.RubyFrostApple.com. Interested retailers are urged to contact Crunch Time to find out how they can join the ranks of current RubyFrost partners.
 
“We don’t want anybody to miss out on this great winter apple,” says Russell.
RubyFrost is known for its gorgeous ruby red color, its exciting sweet and tart flavors, and the modern crunch apple lovers demand. Robin Leous, Crunch Time’s business manager, has been receiving emails and calls from RubyFrost fans anxiously awaiting the apple’s return.
 
Created by the apple experts at Cornell University, RubyFrost is grown only by Crunch Time Apple Growers to exacting standards to ensure consumers have a great eating experience. Crunch Time’s 145 apple growers located throughout New York state began planting their orchards in 2011; the first apples arrived in supermarkets in 2013. Production has been increasing rapidly from year to year, as new orchards mature and bear more fruit.
 
For more information, visit www.crunchtimeapplegrowers.com
 

RubyFrost growers
Albany County — Indian Ladder Farms, Inc., Altamont, NY 12009
Cayuga County — Owen Orchards, Inc., Sennett
Clinton County —  Everett Orchards, LTD., Plattsburgh; Forrence Orchards, Inc., Peru; Northern Orchard Co., Inc., Peru
Columbia County — Golden Harvest Farms, Inc., Valatie; Samascott Orchards LLC., Kinderhook
Dutchess County — Barton Orchard, Poughquag; Mead Orchards LLC, Tivoli; Rose HIll Farm, Red Hook
Monroe County — Green Acre Fruit Farm, Rochester; Joseph Heberle Farms, Hamlin; Kirby’s Farm Market, Brockport; Partyka Farms, Kendall; Whittier Fruit Farm, Rochester.
Niagara County — Becker Farms, Gasport; Mrowka Family Farm, Lockport; Schwab Farm LLC., Gasport
Onondaga County — Abbott Farms, Lysander; Beak and Skiff Apple Farms, LaFayette; Navarino Orchard, Onondaga
Ontario County — Red Jacket Orchards Inc., Geneva; Seneca Orchards, Clifton Springs
Orange County — Ochs Orchard, Warwick; Soons Orchards Inc., New Hampton
Orleans County — Brown’s Berry Patch, Waterport; Circle R Fruit Farm, Waterport; Hurd Orchards, Holley; 
Panek’s Pickin’ Patch/Pumpkin Pile, Albion; Zingler Farms, East Aurora
Oswego County — Behling Orchards, LLC, Mexico; Fruit Valley Orchard, Oswego
Rensselaer County — Goold Orchards, Inc., Castleton; O.A. Borden & Sons Inc., Schaghticoke
Rockland County — Orchards of Conckiln, Pomona
Saratoga County — Bowman Orchards, Rexford; Hummingbird Hill Farm, Charlton; Knight Orchards, Burnt Hills
Schuyler County — Reisinger’s Apple Country, Watkins Glen
Suffolk County — Harbes Farm & Orchard, Riverhead; The Milk Pail, Water Mill; Richters Orchard, Northport; Wickham’s Fruit Farm; Cutchogue
Tompkins County — Black Diamond Farm, Trumansburg; Cornell Orchards, Ithaca
Ulster County — Dressel Farms, LLC., New Paltz; DuBois Farms Corp., Highland; M.G. Hurd and Sons, Inc., Modena; Trapani Farms Inc., Milton; Wilklow Orchards, Highland
Washington County — Apple Hill Orchards, Clemons
Wayne County — The Apple Shed, Newark; Burnap Fruit Farms, LLC, Sodus; K&S Bischoping, Williamson; Lagoner Farms Inc., Williamson; Noto Fruit Farm, Williamson; Orbaker’s Fruit Farm Inc., Williamson;
Simpelaar Fruit Farms. Lyons; W.H. Young & Sons Farm, Williamson

Haskins Named President, CEO of New York Apple Association

New York Apple Association is starting the new year off with Cynthia Haskins at the helm as its new president and chief executive officer.
 
“I am thrilled to partner with New York Apple Association’s dedicated board, committed staff and critical partners to expand brand recognition and consumption of New York apples and products,” said Haskins.
 
“This is an ideal leadership opportunity to marry my passion for working with growers and industry to expand markets locally, nationally and globally.”
 

Haskins

Haskins joins the association with extensive background in the produce industry, having worked with organizations such as The Oppenheimer Group, Washington Apple Commission, Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, Dole, Sunkist, Missouri Department of Agriculture, and most recently Illinois Farm Bureau.
 
“We welcome Cynthia’s vast experience and leadership to the New York apple community,” said Jason Woodworth, chairman of the New York Apple Association’s board of directors.
 
“Cynthia has a results-oriented approach and a broad background that will serve our diverse industry well,” he said.
 
The New York Apple Association promotes demand for New York state-produced and -packed apples and apple products, through promotional and educational work with retailers and other handlers, consumers, processors and others. The association also works with state and federal legislators and regulators.
 
New York is the second largest apple-producing state in the country, after Washington state.
 
“Cynthia’s experience in the domestic and international apple industries – coupled with her skills in marketing, association management and government relations – will be strong assets as we look to the future,” said Woodworth.
 
Haskins succeeds Jim Allen, who retired Jan. 2 after a 20-year career with NYAA, including 16 years as president.

State Kicks Off 2016 Big Apple Crunch

From the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets:

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball Thursday Oct. 20 joined the 2016 Big Apple Crunch in New York City, sponsored by the FarmOn! Foundation, an agriculture-focused non-profit supporting educational youth programming.  

The Big Apple Crunch is an annual event that celebrates New York state agriculture and promotes New York’s apple producers through food and nutrition education across the State.

Ball, joined by the commissioner of the state Department of Health and representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, FarmOn! Foundation and New York City SchoolFood, helped lead dozens of middle school students and staff from Public School 96 in taking a bite out of a New York state grown apple.  

The “crunch” followed an announcement of the expansion of the NY Thursdays program in schools across New York City.  NY Thursdays kicked off last year and features locally grown and produced foods on school menus. This year, the program has expanded to include New York State produced beef.

In addition to the event held at PS 96, dozens of Big Apple Crunch events were held throughout New York City and across the state. The New York Apple Association joined the NYC Food Policy Center at Hunter College for a Big Apple Crunch at La Marqueta.  

The event brought together hundreds of children to take part in fun and educational activities, and wrapped up with a record-breaking Big Apple Crunch. The event also featured activity centers with apple art, games, tastings and nutrition education led by East Harlem organizations and small businesses.

In Albany, the state Education Department Senior Deputy Commissioner Jhone Ebert and Assistant Commissioner for Student Support Services Renee Rider joined more than 50 staff members from the department's Office of Child Nutrition on the front steps of the State Education Building this morning for the Big Apple Crunch.  

They got into the spirit, simultaneously biting into locally grown, New York state apples to celebrate National Food Day and promote New York state food and farms.

Created through a partnership of GrowNYC and the NYC Office of Food Policy in 2012 and sponsored by the FarmOn! Foundation, the Big Apple Crunch originated as a way to celebrate National Food Day. 

In the first year of the event, about 400,000 New Yorkers bit into locally grown New York State apples at the same time in a universal call to action to raise awareness about supporting local agriculture. 

Since its inception, the annual Big Apple Crunch has expanded its reach, breaking a world record in 2015 with one million New Yorkers participating in the crunch.

This year, FarmOn! Foundation called on all New Yorkers to take the Big Apple Crunch Challenge and pledge to eat locally by participating in the Big Apple Crunch. 

For additional incentive to support the cause, crunchers who submit a #BigAppleCrunchChallenge video on social media can win $1,000 towards a FarmOn! Victory Garden, which will help bring fresh produce and educational opportunities to a school of their choosing.

Congress Approves Hard Cider Bill

From the New York Apple Association:

New York state’s apple industry is applauding approval in Congress of an overhaul of how hard cider is taxed that will allow New York state hard ciders to be more competitive in the marketplace.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the measure as part of the so-called tax extenders bill approved Thursday, while the U.S. Senate approved it today (Friday, Dec. 18) as part of a combined tax and government funding bill.

The House and Senate bills included language from bills introduced in both chambers earlier this year to level the playing field regarding how hard cider is taxed relative to other alcoholic beverages such as champagne, wine and beer. 

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) introduced the “Cider Investment and Development through Excise Tax Reduction (CIDER) Act of 2015” with five bipartisan cosponsors in May.

New York’s U.S. Rep. Chris Collins (R-27) introduced similar bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives in January with Oregon’s Rep. Earl Blumenauer. 

Several U.S. representatives from New York subsequently co-sponsored that House bill: Richard Hanna (R-22), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-18), Charles Rangel (D-13), Elise Stefanik (R-21) and Paul Tonko (D-20).

“As the second-largest apple producing state in the country, New York should be the core of hard cider boom we are seeing now. With this sensible change, our hard cider makers can sell more cider and grow their businesses – and that means our apple growers can sell more apples to those cider makers,” said New York Apple Association President Jim Allen.

Under current federal law, depending upon its alcoholic content hard cider can be taxed at same rate as wine, $1.07 per gallon – and depending upon its carbonation, it can be taxed at the even higher champagne rate of $3.30 per gallon. 

The CIDER Act provision included in the tax extender bill changes the definition of hard cider to tax it at $.23 per gallon, equivalent to beer.

President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill into law.

LaFayette Apple Festival set for Oct. 10 and 11

The LaFayette Apple Festival is this weekend.

The annual event is 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday Oct. 10 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Oct. 11. There is also an apple pancake breakfast each day at 7 a.m.

Come to LaFayette -- the heart of Onondaga County's apple country (Beak & Skiff Apple Orchard in LaFayette recently was named the number one orchard in the US in a USA Today poll) -- to experience crafters, free entertainment, artists, nonprofit organizations, a scarecrow contest, king and queen contest and pie contest. 

There also are loads of goodies to eat -- in fact everything possible that can be made with apples will be at the festival (especially dumplings, doughnuts and fritters).

Parking is free. Admission is $5 and ages 12 and under are free. Presale tickets for $4 are available at Old Tyme Cafe in LaFayette or Baileys ice cream on Route 11 in Nedrow.

No pets are allowed (only service dogs).

Apples Created at New York State Agricultural Experiment Station

Susan Brown has helped create some of the most beloved apples in New York state.

 Read about her and her work here: http://www.syracuse.com/empire/index.ssf/2015/09/mother_of_apple_invention_meet_the_woman_research_center_behind_nys_newest_apple.html#incart_river_home

Apples created at the New York Ag Experiment Station: http://www.syracuse.com/empire/index.ssf/2015/09/meet_the_apples_7_varieties_developed_in_new_york.html#incart_river_home

Apple Harvest Smaller This Year, But Quality is Great

Apple ready to be picked in a New York orchard.

Another story from Empire Farm & Dairy magazine:

By DEBRA J. GROOM
Empire Farm & Dairy
 
New York state is in the heart of the apple harvest.
 
And the good news is there will be plenty of delicious apples for everyone this season, according to the New York Apple Association.
 
The harvest forecast is for producers to have a smaller number of apples than usual this year due to some problems caused by frost in May. But Julia Stewart, speaking for the New York Apple Association in Fishers, Ontario County, said there will be plenty of apples for all consumers, and the fruit will be of fantastic quality.
 
The forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Apple Association is for New York — the No. 2 apple-producing state in the country — to harvest 26.2 million apples this year, compared with 30.1 million in 2014.
 
“Last year was exceptionally above normal, and this year will be a little smaller than normal,” Stewart said.
 
There were no areas of the state this year with massive devastation due to the weather, but instead, small pockets were hit with frost in the spring, she said.
 
“It all depended on where you were,” Stewart said. “It was very hit and miss.”
 
She said some areas, such as the state’s largest apple area along Lake Ontario in Wayne County, are seeing great numbers of apples on the trees, while another spot in the same region could have fewer due to frost that killed fruit blooms.
 
“We’ve had some orchards with damage, mainly in Orleans County, and some in Wayne and some in Niagara County as well. But certainly not devastation,” said Craig J. Kahlke, an extension agent and a member of the Lake Ontario Fruit Team.
 
“These are a few orchards and only a few varieties in those orchards. We certainly have a very nice statewide apple crop, and there will be no shortage of excellent quality fruit (in) the fall,” he said.
 
The apple growers in the eastern part of the state — Clinton and Essex counties, as well as the Capital Region — did not experience frost damage that will have a significant impact on their crop,” said Anna Wallis, Cornell Cooperative Extension fruit specialist in Plattsburgh.
 
“Luckily, most of the orchards are close enough to Lake Champlain to benefit from a water-moderated climate,” she said. “The weather station in Peru, N.Y., recorded a low of 34.6 degrees May 23, not cold enough to have a significant impact.”
 
Some orchards in Northern New York also lost fruit due to freezing temperatures on May 23, when the mercury dipped into the mid- to high 20s.
 
“It’s devastating for those who lose fruit,” Stewart said. “But overall, the crop is very good, and statewide we’ve had very good weather.”
 
That weather includes plentiful sunshine and just the right amount of rain, she said.
 
“The red varieties need sun to color,” Stewart said. “Also, the cooler nighttime temperatures being experienced now also help apples get a beautiful bright red to the skin.”

Get Ready for Apple Picking in New York

Gala apples at Abbott Farm in Lysander

Have you ever thought about that custom of bringing an apple to the teacher?

Well I wonder if that started because apples are ready for picking just about the time kids go back to school?

Early varieties of apples are ready now, depending on which  orchard you visit. Orchard owners say there is a great crop this year, with apples big, juicy and tasty.

The U.S. Apple Association forecasts that New York's crop will be great, but not quite as plentiful as last year. The association predicts a crop of 26.2 million bushels in New York for 2015, down from 30.8 million bushels in 2014.

Paula Reds are the first off the tree and a few orchards (Deer Run in LaFayette, Beak and Skiff in LaFayette) are open for customers who desire this tart, juicy and crisp apple.

Some others, such as Navarino Orchard on Route 20 west of LaFayette in Navarino, are open now with Zestars (crisp and juicy) and Paula Reds. Warren Abbott at Abbott Farm on Route 370 in Lysander said he opened Aug. 22 for Zestars and Sansas (sweet apple and a cross of Gala and Akane). Adams Acres in Pompey will be open about Labor Day and O’Neill Orchard in LaFayette plans to open Aug. 29.

Call the Onondaga County orchard of your choice for an exact date on when they will be open for the season.

Here is a list of most of the orchards in Onondaga County:

Beak and Skiff, Route 20, LaFayette, 696-6085

Adams Acres, Sevier Road, town of Pompey, 498-6654

Navarino Orchard, Route 20, Navarino, 673-9181

McLusky Orchard, LaFayette, 677-5176

Abbott Farm, Route 370, Lysander, 638-7783

O’Neill Orchard, Route 20, LaFayette, 677-9407

Deer Run Farm, Route 11A, LaFayette, 677-8087

Clearview Orchard, Tully, 696-6438

Apples also are available in other parts of the state. Go to http://www.nyapplecountry.com/find/pick-your-own to find a place where you can pick your own apples in New York state. Also, check out http://www.nyapplecountry.com/varieties to see all the different apple varieties that are grown in New York, what they taste like and their best uses (applesauce, pies, fresh eating, etc.)

Grapes, Apples Still Strong in NY Agriculture

New York once again ranks second in the country in apple production and third in the country in grape production, according to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

New York growers produced about 1.26 billion pounds of apples and 188,000 tons of grapes last year. 

With these estimates, only California and Washington exceed New York in grape production and only Washington produced more apples than the Empire State last year. 

New York was named "Wine Region of the Year" by Wine Enthusiast Magazine in October. The growth of the state's wine industry -- more and more wineries are opened in the state each year -- was cited as a reason why New York garnered the wine region title.

"The 2014 New York grape crop turned out a lot better than many people expected after the extreme cold of three 'polar vortex' events Upstate during the winter, followed by a relatively cool spring and summer," said Jim Trezise, president of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation.

"But September turned out to be pure magic for ripening, so the quality was superb and the quantity was larger than envisioned earlier," Trezise said. "Tonnage was 9 percent below the previous year, but that's because 2013 was the largest harvest on record. All in all, it was a very good year."

"We might be number two in national apple production, but New York has the best growing conditions and best tasting apples in the country," said James Allen, president of the New York Apple Association. "That puts us number one in the hearts of consumers from around the world. Snow may be on the ground, but New York apples, ciders and other apple products are available at food establishments throughout the year."

According to USDA Statistics Service, New York is home to 40,000 acres of apple orchards. Apple growers produced an average of 31,500 pounds per acre of apples. Last year's crop totaled $289 million, a 22 percent increase from 2013. 

New York is also home to 37,000 acres dedicated to the production of grapes. In the wake of a very harsh winter following the best crop in the state's history, grape growers produced 5.08 tons per acre of grapes in 2014 with crop production totaling $69.4 million.
New York apples have year-round availability in more than 20 varieties, including Cortland, Empire, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, McIntosh, RubyFrost and Zestar.
 

According to a recent economic impact study commissioned by the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, the grape, grape juice and wine industry has a $4.8 billion economic impact and attracts 5.3 million tourists annually to the New York state. The industry supports 25,000 full-time jobs with wages amounting to more than $1.4 billion. 

New York has ranked second in apple production every year since 1996 and third in grape production every year since 1987, with an exception in 1996 when the state ranked second. New York state also traditionally ranks in the top 10 nationally in the production of blueberries, peaches, pears, strawberries, sweet cherries and tart cherries. 

In 2014, the state ranked fourth in pear production, fifth in tart cherries, eighth in sweet cherries, ninth in strawberries and 11th in peaches and blueberries.

It's Still Apple Season

Remember to get out there and get your New York apples and cider.

Hey Ladies, Go Eat an Apple

Check this out -- http://www.wwnytv.com/features/interviews/Study-Says-Apples-Can-Help-Womens-Sex-Life-274770891.html

Happy Valentine's Day

Love this post on Facebook from the New York Apple Association.

Happy Valentine's Day. Eat a New York apple to celebrate.

NY Apple Association President Testifies in Washington, D.C.

Go to http://www.finance.senate.gov/hearings/watch/?id=bd99ab08-5056-a032-523f-27ddae65e3d0 and then scroll to about 41 minutes in to see New York Apple Association President Jim Allen testify to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee about overseas trade.

Apple Association Takes on The Big Apple

Go to http://farmprogress.com/story-new-york-apple-growers-crunched-big-apple-9-104053-nl_4_nlr_2?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=01+November+2013 to read the story.

Who Owns New York's Apples?

Good story from http://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2013/10/who_owns_the_apples_new_yorks.html Sunday's Post-Standard.

This is what growers have to do to bring all of us new varieties.

Apples Are Here!

My Facebook friends at Owen Orchards in Sennett posted they are open and have first-of-the-season apples.

Here's their post:

"WE ARE OFFICIALLY OPEN! fresh picked apples. Ginger Gold, Jersey Mac and Paula Reds. Peaches and Blueberries also!"

Get on out there, OK??