NYAA Announces Apple Trees Blooming Statewide
FISHERS, NY - We’re in the thick of spring season, and this gorgeous time of year is marked by New York State's blossoming apple trees. 11 million blossoming apple trees, to be precise, and all showing off their blooms. The New York Apple Association (NYAA) announced this spring event on behalf of its members, the 500 commercial apple growers of New York State who produce, on average, 29.5 million bushels of apples annually, making theirs the second largest apple-producing state in the U.S.
"Temperatures have warmed enough statewide to coax blossoms statewide to coax blossoms from their winter sleep," said President Cynthia Haskin in a press release. "Apple orchards are turning into seas of pink buds opening into white flowers. It is a sight to see! The different regions of the state are usually no more than 10 days apart from each other in the process. The bloom season will be over with soon so get out and see what makes New York apples spectacular!"
NYAA noted that New York apples are known all over for their taste and texture.
"New York apples have a distinct character and a distinct flavor that comes from nature and the right conditions coming together in just the right way,” added Haskins. “No other part of the country has quite what New York has when it comes to an ideal mix of climate, geography, and rich glacial soils—the essential ingredients needed to create the extraordinary flavor of a New York apple.”
While it is still too early in a long growing season to speculate about the state’s 2018 harvest size, this year’s bloom is on track with its perennial schedule. Apple harvest dates do vary by variety and growing region, and growers will start harvest in August for some early-season varieties. In the southernmost growing areas, harvest is largely finished by October.
In all, 26 new and classic New York apple varieties are grown in New York, including varieties like Ruby Frost® and SnapDragon®, managed varieties like SweeTango®, and popular varieties like Honeycrisp and Zestar®. New York also has a full line-up of classic varieties like McIntosh, Fuji, Gala, and those developed in the state including Acey Mac, AUTUMNCRISP®, Empire, Fortune, Macoun, and Jonagold.
“It’s likely that New York grows more varieties than other states but one thing we know for sure is there’s a New York apple for every palate!” said Haskins.
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