Ellijay, GA |
Ellijay calls itself the apple capital of Georgia — and right now, it’s earning that title. Fresh apples are being harvested across North Georgia, and at R&A Orchards in Gilmer County, owner Andy Futch says this year’s crop has come in strong and harvest is already well underway — a fact that might surprise anyone still planning to wait for fall to make the drive up.
“This year has been a good season for apples. We’ve got a bumper crop, plenty of apples on the trees, and everything looks good. We’ve had adequate rainfall and a good growing season,” Futch said. “It’s a little hotter than I like it, but other than that, it’s been a good season.”
The warm temperatures have had one noticeable effect — color. Futch says hot weather can work against an apple’s signature redness, though this year’s quality and quantity have more than made up for it.
“When we have hotter-than-normal weather, it affects the coloring of the apples — they don’t get as much color. Apples like cool weather, and that’s what brings on their redness. Sunshine tends to bleed that color out of the fruit,” Futch said.
For many visitors, apple picking in North Georgia is an October tradition. But Futch says the season runs far longer than most people realize — and some of the best picking happens well before the fall crowds arrive.
“The harvest season is going great. We’re already into our sixth variety of apples this year. Apples are normally harvested starting in July through November — we’ll pick the last apple off the tree sometime around Thanksgiving,” Futch said.
It’s not only the harvest drawing visitors to the mountains this time of year. Futch says most orchards in the area offer more than just produce, making it a full day out for families looking for a mountain getaway.
“Most apple houses in North Georgia offer some aspect of agritourism — from you-pick apples to wagon rides to you-cut flowers, corn mazes. September is a good month for agritourism. Most all the operations are open and ready for business,” Futch said.
While harvest season gets all the attention, Futch says what most visitors never see is the year-round work that makes it all possible. Getting an apple from the tree to the shelf is anything but simple.
“The apple business is a twelve-month business. January through May, every tree on this farm has to be pruned — done by hand with a pair of pruners. Then in the spring we start spraying to keep the trees healthy and the fruit quality up,” Futch said. “After bloom, once we assess what kind of crop we’ve got, we do hand thinning. Then around July, it’s back into harvest mode — and we’re harvesting apples from July through November.”
For North Georgia’s apple country, this season is shaping up to be one worth the drive — whether you come in August, September, or all the way through Thanksgiving. The trees are loaded, the orchards are open, and the apples are ready.