They're here, and they're way ahead of schedule. We're talking apples, which are ripening a week to 10 days earlier than usual this season.
Typically, the first good apples appear in late August, at the height of the Minnesota State Fair, said University of Minnesota apple breeder David Bedford.
But this year, Zestar apples, a popular early variety, were already being picked well before the fair opened last Thursday. Honeycrisps are expected to arrive in early to mid-September, about five to 10 days ahead of schedule, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
And SweeTango, the much heralded apple introduced in 2009 by the U, is expected to be ripe for picking around Labor Day, Bedford said.
At its debut, SweeTango was rock-star elusive, selling out in about a week. This year, with more mature trees, there will be about twice as many apples available, Bedford said, although probably not enough for all those who want a taste. "It might be two weeks this year."
Apple lovers who like to pick their own are advised to call ahead to ensure that their favorite variety will be available for their orchard visit, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. (The Minnesota Apple Growers Association publishes a brochure that includes estimated harvest dates, available at the State Fair in the Agriculture/Horticulture Building. For a directory of orchards, visit www.minnesotagrown.com.)
The accelerated season will affect all apple varieties, Bedford said. "This was the earliest bloom in at least 20 years. It goes all the way back to our early spring. Once the wheels get set in motion, the apples follow the pace."
Yields may be down a bit this year, Bedford said. The warmer-than-usual spring was followed by a later-than-usual freeze on May 9, when many trees were in bloom. Most Minnesota apple varieties have been bred to withstand frost, but the freeze did knock some blooms off trees, reducing yields by as little as 10 percent to as much as 99 percent, depending on location.
