As cooler days roll in, what better way to get in the fall spirit than with North Carolina apples?
Last weekend, during my weekly trip to the Raleigh State Farmers Market, my eyes caught sight of a counter full of brown paper bags, each containing roughly a dozen vibrantly colored spheres. It’s officially apple season, North Carolina!
I brought home a bag of Gala apples, known for their mild sweetness and versatility of use (eating, cooking, and preserving). As I write this, my apartment is filled with their sweet smell as I slowly dehydrate them in my oven into one of my favorite fall snacks, apple chips. Is there a better way to get into the fall spirit than with apples?
Thanks to Visit NC Farms, bringing home your own taste of fall is easy, and even an adventure if you’re up for it. If you’re looking for pre-picked apples, search “Farmer’s Markets & Farm Stands” under the Our Farms tab on our webpage. You can expect to find fresh apples at markets and stands across North Carolina from late August through October.
If you’re hoping to make an experience out of it, check out our featured Apple Picking and Orchard Trail or search “Pick-Your-Own” under the Our Farms tab on our webpage. Farms like Apple Hill Orchard in Morganton, NC, are eager to host you for a fall experience featuring not just apples but also their farm market and mouth-watering bakery goodies like scratch-made apple donuts and apple bread.
Not only is apple picking a fun activity, but it comes with the added bonus of getting to pick exactly the type of apple that you like. From sweet Fuji apples that will add a crisp touch to your fall salads, to Jonagolds with their hint of tartness that will shine fresh or baked, to large, tart Mutsu apples that are known to freeze well, in addition to being a lovely snack, baked or fresh, your apple options in North Carolina are plentiful. You can even test out an apple butter recipe with Rome or Wolf River apples, known for their mildly sweet flavor, as the perfect apples for cooking and preserving.
Wondering how to store all those apples that you’ll bring home? One great thing about apples is that they’ll last four to eight weeks in your fridge. For best results, leave them unwashed before storage. You can also consider preserving them by canning, making apple jam, applesauce, or apple chutney, or pressing them into apple juice or cider. Of course, I’ve included my apple chip recipe below as well.
We’d love to see your apple picking adventures and what you’re cooking up with your haul. Share all things apple with us by tagging us @VisitNCFarms on Instagram. Get picking!
By Elena Wigglesworth, NC State University double major in Agricultural Business Management and Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management and our current Agritourism Marketing Intern