"How's the fruit this year??"

Summer is in full swing up here in Bayfield!  Any traces of snow have disappeared months ago, the spring apple blossoms have come and gone...and the wet spring we had, has turned into a beautiful summer!

One of our apple trees in early summer...everything is GREEN!

The summer months bring many folks from all over the country, who flock to the Bayfield area to enjoy the peacefulness and beauty of this countryside.  As customers stop by our Orchard Store during their Bayfield visit, the most common question we have heard is, "How is the fruit this year??"  (Coming in at a close second is, "Where is the Bayfield winery...")  This question is always asked with a hint of a troubled expression...many people seem to be scarred by the less-than-average output of fruit, circa 2012, and it seems everyone needs a little reassurance about the status of our fruit this year.  So let me just start out by saying, our fruit is doing GREAT!  Here are some explanations...

• NO LATE FROST
  

The winter of 2013 was a long one, but we didn't have any dramatic warm-ups, until the spring.  This winter was cold, and it stayed cold.  While many of us would have gone for a week of 80 degrees in February, our orchards didn't mind the cold, long winter.  In fact, a dramatic warm-up, followed by an inevitable re-frost would have been detrimental to the health of our orchards.  So in this regard, the long winter was just fine with our fruit. 

• LOTS OF SNOW & RAIN
  

One of the great things that happened this winter and spring, was that we got A LOT of snow and rain.  At the time, it was hard to deal with those April snowstorms...or the weeks of rain in May...but all that precipitation has paid off, in a great way, for our fruit!  The fruit trees and berry bushes are thriving because of it!

• THE ONLY CATCH...
  

The only way the long winter has affected the Bayfield Apple Company fruit, is that everything will be ready about 2 weeks later than usual.  Our apple and pear blossoms took an extra 2 weeks to bloom, our raspberries and blueberries awakened 2 weeks later than usual, our currants & cherries - same thing.  So don't be discouraged if you are looking for Bayfield fruit, and can't find any just yet...check back in two weeks!

Now I will leave you with some photos from our orchards - evidence of healthy and vibrant fruit trees and berry bushes!  Take a look, and get ready to eat some delicious  and bountiful Bayfield fruit this summer and fall!

In the meantime, stop by and see us.  Our Orchard Store is open everyday, 9AM-6PM, and we have lots of other goodies...until the fruit is ready to be picked!