News stories tagged with "apples"

(10/20/11) The word apple might make you think of your iPhone or Steve Jobs. But apples are also an important crop in northern New York. Growers say despite the extreme weather, they've harvested a successful crop of big, sweet apples this year.

Mason Forrence is president of Forrence Orchards in Peru. He's the third generation in his family to run the business. Forrence spoke with Julie Grant on his cellphone, from the field. He says they're finishing up the harvest in what has been a challenging year.

(09/29/11) We get one of every three bites of food from crops pollinated by bees. That's about $15 billion into the U.S. economy each year. But North Country beekeepers are losing huge numbers of their little, busy coworkers.

Apiarists (beekeepers) from around the country--and the world--have been dealing with what's called Colony Collapse Disorder. It's been around for five years now.

Julie Grant visited with some beekeepers, and reports that scientists and the government don't agree on what should be done to help them. more

(10/06/09) The Forrence Family Orchards, in Peru, NY, will be given an award by Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, this month. TAUNY will hand out its annual North Country Heritage Awards on Sunday, October 18th, in Canton. The Forrence family can trace its farming roots back to the early 1800s in the Champlain Valley. In the 1940s, the farm switched from producing milk to apples as its main crop. Today, it is owned and run by third and fourth generation Forrences, who use state-of-the-art technology to grow and harvest apples. But they still maintain many of the farm's original 18th century buildings. Todd Moe spoke with Mason Forrence about this year's apple harvest and a lifetime in the orchard.

(01/19/09) Martha Foley and horticulturist Amy Ivy brush off thoughts of snow and cold and look ahead to more summer garden delights: apples and blueberries.

(11/14/07) There are few seasonal flavors that are as strong on the senses as apples and apple cider. For months and months we settle for fruit imported from who-knows-where, until late summer, when local apples are ready for picking and pressing. For many decades, people in Jefferson County have known that the first turning of the leaves means that Burrville Cider Mill is running at full capacity, producing some of the tastiest cider in the region. Today, NCPR and TAUNY, Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, continue our look at some very special places in the North Country. A few weeks ago, Joel Hurd and Varick Chittenden visited Burrville to learn more about cider, donuts and why many people think this oldest building in the county is haunted.

(01/30/06) Martha Foley talks with horticulturist Amy Ivy about growing apple trees. It's not as easy as it looks!

(10/15/04) One month ago, Hurricane Ivan slammed into the island of Jamaica, ripping apart houses and knocking out phone lines and electricity. The storm hit just as hundreds of Jamaican workers were arriving in the Champlain Valley to help with the fall apple harvest. These last weeks, the men have struggled to support their families while far from home. As Brian Mann reports, this has been a season of worry, but also a season of faith.

Hurricane Ivan Relief Fund: Donations can be sent to Peru Community Church, PO Box 38, Peru, NY 12972. Make checks payable to church, but specify that funds are meant for Ivan relief.

(10/21/03) The fall season brings with it celebrations of the harvest. Pumpkins and gourds show up at the grocery store. And for many families, fall means a trip to the apple orchard. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium's Lester Graham observes that often that traditional celebration of the harvest just ain't what it used to be.

(03/11/03) Adirondack Life magazine is looking for the region's best apple recipes. The apple cookoff follows an earlier call for maple recipes that drew scores of entries. Martha Foley talks with Adirondack Life editor-at-large Betsy Folwell about the apple recipe contest.

(02/03/03) Martha Foley talks with horticulturist Amy Ivy about the plethora of spring planting catalogs and tips for growing fruit, from apples to strawberries.