APPLE HARVEST IN FULL SWING; PLENTY OF VARIETIES TO ENTICE THE APPETITE

This year's apple crop is either "short" or "spotty," according to which orchardist you talk to.

Scott Beggs of the Pioneer Apple Orchard in Jackson says he will have about half a crop.

David Diebold of Diebold Orchards at Benton says that with some apple varieties he has a bumper crop; other varieties are short.

The yield this year is different from last year when area orchards had a full crop.

Diebold said, however, he expected to have plenty of apples for his retail operation.

Beggs' Pioneer orchard is busy picking Jonathans, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious, with the Red Delicious being particularly short.

Fall varieties, like Winesap, Rome's and York's, are expected to be better.

He estimated his yield at 50,000 bushels at 42 pounds each.

Beggs' orchard started harvesting Aug. 3, earlier than most.

One reason for the earlier harvest is Happy Apple of Washington, Mo., a regular Pioneer customer who makes candy apples.

That company is more concerned about apple size than their color, Beggs said, adding that Happy Apple wants apples 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter and want solid apples with some sugar.

Pioneer was packaging apples in a bushel and 1/8 bulk package this week and in 12, 3-pound bags to a case.

Pioneer orchard's pick-your-own operation continues from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., said LaDonia Beggs, Scott's mother and manager of the fruit grading and the pick-your-own area.

She says apple quality is excellent this year, adding that they seem to be ripening earlier.

Weekends are the busiest days for the pick-your-own operation.

Pioneer also gives tours and hayrides for church and school groups.

Employment swells to about 100 people during the picking and grading season at Pioneer, which operates along Highway 72 near the west city limits of Jackson.

Diebold provided a short apple-growing lesson while highlighting his orchard west of Kelso. His brother and co-owner, Joe Diebold, was leading the apple-picking crew.

One idea on apples is that they develop from five modified leaves. The tips of those five leaves are often visible on the bottom of an apple. In addition, a five-pointed star is visible in the center when an apple is cut horizontally.

Apples this year are developing on wood that was grown on the tree during 1992.

Buds were initiated on that wood in the spring of 1993. Last spring, the blossoms developed, were pollinated and grew into apples.

The spottiness of this year's crop may be traced to May 1993 when the buds were being initiated, Diebold said, adding that during that time there was a lot of rain and cool weather when sunny conditions are needed for the best production. In addition, a small frost early last spring may have also cut the yield some.

American consumers buy Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Jonathans in volume, and about 20 percent of the apple varieties account for 80 percent of apple sales.

Baking apples haven't anything to do with apple pies, Diebold said.

The best apple pies comes from "the maker, not the apple."

A great cook can make even a "so-so" apple taste good in a pie, he said.

Once his family froze nine varieties, and his mom, a good baker, made pies from each variety. The family liked those pies made from Staymen Winesap apples best, Diebold said.

Those apples are usually available by Oct. 1, and a good crop is expected.

Jonathans, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious have been available since the first of the month.

Diebold is using some the Jonathans for cider, which is made at the retail store.

Diebold also is growing some new varieties and likes the Gala variety as a good summer apple with superior eating quality. It has a spicy flavor with a little more zest than a Red Delicious, he said.

Another new variety is the Fuji, which is harvested late in the season.

"This apple has really impressed me," Diebold said. He has a short crop of these because the trees aren't yet in full production.

The York Imperial used to be the No. 1 processing apple, and once was rated the best fresh eating apples by gourmets, Diebold said.

The orchard has a great crop of the Rome Beauty, considered best for baked apples.

Diebold said the Winesap variety is also going to be a good crop.

His retail operation is on the west outer road at the intersection of Interstate 55 and Highway 77 east of Benton.