Apple Picking

Yesterday we drove to Othello to pick some apples.  Our friend Larry has a friend who has an apple orchard.  The apples that the farmer is selling, have been picked.  We were after the left overs! 

With- in the "desirable" trees, there are pollinator trees.  A common variety to use for a pollinator is the Rome Beauty.  It is my favorite for making pies and sauce.  It is not a variety that is favorable for sale in the stores so those apples are not picked for retail sale.  They are left on the trees in the orchard and simply rot in the field. 

Crayton and Beth and Alicia were all part of our picking crew.  In one hour we filled two three foot by three foot by four foot tall cardboard boxes with the most beautiful apples.   Crayton's pick up was full to brimming!  We had so much fun.  Now the work begins!!!

Reynald and Alicia getting started.

Larry brought these neat picking bags which helped speed up the process.

Emptying a full bag in to a bucket to take to the pickup.

Rome Beauty apples on the tree.

Reynald with a full bucket and a couple waiting to be filled.

Look at this cute picker!

Beth ready to fill buckets.  Larry cautioned us not to pick up the apples from the ground, so we didn't.  There were plenty on the trees to be picked.  

Reynald and Beth getting as many apples as possible off the Fuji tree!